FOI/202600514874 · FOI · partially withheld
Combined communications between Scottish Government and multiple information organisations: FOI release
Information requested
Can you provide a copy of the last 3 communication with the Scottish Government from:
Ethical standards Commissioner for standards Information commissioner office Scottish Information Commissioner Scottish Public Service Ombudsman
Response
I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.
Some of the information you have requested (the attachment to the Scottish Information Commissioner’s email of 4 March 2026 at 16:01) is available from https://www.foi.scot/sites/default/files/2026-03/2025%2003%2004%20SIC%20to%20PS%20Meeting%20re%20Hamilton%20Inquiry.pdf
Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because the exemption under Section 38(1)(b) (personal data of a third party) applies to a small amount of information that you have requested. Section 38(1)(b) applies to a small amount of the information because it is personal data of a third party, including the names and personal email addresses of Scottish Government officials below the level of Senior Civil Servant and junior staff of external bodies, and data relating to other third parties. Disclosing this would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.
This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.
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
Some of the information you have requested (the attachment to the Scottish Information Commissioner’s email of 4 March 2026 at 16:01) is available from https://www.foi.scot/sites/default/files/2026-03/2025%2003%2004%20SIC%20to%20PS%20Meeting%20re%20Hamilton%20Inquiry.pdf Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because the exemption under Section 38(1)(b) (personal data of a third party) applies to a small amount of information that you have requested. Section 38(1)(b) applies to a small amount of the information because it is personal data of a third party, including the names and personal email addresses of Scottish Government officials below the level of Senior Civil Servant and junior staff of external bodies, and data relating to other third parties. Disclosing this would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.