FOI/202600514532 · FOI · partially withheld
Election 2026 Internal Readiness Project Board documentation: FOI release
Information requested
The actions notes, substantive papers, update reports to senior leadership, distributed by the Election 2026 Internal Readiness Project Board, referred to by the response to FOI 202600509907
Response
I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.
This request returned 32 documents in scope, which include 6 actions notes, 6 highlight reports to the Executive Team (the update reports to senior leadership) and 20 substantive papers.
While our aim is to provide all the information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because exemptions under sections s.38(1) b) (personal information) and s.30(c)- substantial prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why this latter exemption applies is explained below.
The s.30(c) exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because the people of Scotland are interested in the role of the Civil Service in the upcoming Scottish Parliament Election and the support to the incoming administration.
However, this is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining the ability for civil servants to internally discuss policy and plan activities in the lead to the election and activities post-election, as part of a confidential process.
I have attached the documents (31 documents) with the exemptions marked to this email. We have fully redacted paper 5.2 under section 30(c) and therefore have not included it.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Detected exemption language
While our aim is to provide all the information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because exemptions under sections s.38(1) b) (personal information) and s.30(c)- substantial prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why this latter exemption applies is explained below. The s.30(c) exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.