FOI/202600514033 · FOI · partially withheld
First Minister’s Questions (FMQs) briefing notes regarding the Scottish Youth Parliament: FOI release
Information requested
All information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 regarding the "FMQ Briefing Packs" provided to the First Minister and Cabinet Secretaries:
1. Prep Materials & Steering Notes Copies of all "Potential Q&A" or "Defensive Steering" vnotes prepared for FMQs from 2022 to 2026 specifically regarding the Jordan Linden conviction and the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP).
2. Notification of Allegations Any records within the FMQ preparation files from 2010–2022 that mention "Extraordinary Legal Costs" or "Sexual Misconduct Allegations" within the SYP as a potential "Live Issue" for parliamentary questioning.
3. WhatsApp/Teams Comms All recorded messages between the FMQs Prep Team and Special Advisers (SpAds) discussing how to "pivot" or "deflect" questions regarding the SYP "protection racket" allegations.
Response
I enclose a copy of the information you requested.
An exemption applies
An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names and contact details of individuals, and disclosing it 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
An exemption applies An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names and contact details of individuals, and disclosing it 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.