FOI/202600521411 · FOI · partially withheld
Format of First Minister’s Questions: FOI release
Information requested
I am looking for information from the Scottish Government regarding the recent changes to the format and timing of First Minister’s Questions.
Please provide:
Any representations, views or comments made by the First Minister, the First Minister’s Office, Special Advisers, Ministers or Scottish Government officials to the Presiding Officer, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, the Parliamentary Bureau, or any Scottish Parliament officials about:
the decision to increase FMQs from one to two sessions per week; and the decision to split FMQs into a Tuesday backbench session and a Thursday party leaders’ session, and to take questions from the floor without advance publication. Any internal Scottish Government correspondence (including emails, letters, briefing notes, minutes of meetings or phone calls, and instant messages) that discusses or refers to making, or considering making, such representations to the Scottish Parliament about these FMQs changes. Any analysis, advice or briefing prepared for Ministers, the First Minister or Special Advisers that considers the potential impact of these changes to FMQs on ministerial or governmental scrutiny, public engagement or media coverage.
Response
I have enclosed a copy of all information held that falls within the scope of your request in Annex A below.
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 following exemptions under sections of FOISA apply to that information:
S.29(1)(d) - (Operation of any Ministerial Private Office) S.30(b)(i) - (Free and Frank Provision of Advice) S.38(1)(b) - (personal data relating to a third party)
The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained in Annex B.
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 information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because the following exemptions under sections of FOISA apply to that information: S.29(1)(d) - (Operation of any Ministerial Private Office) S.30(b)(i) - (Free and Frank Provision of Advice) S.38(1)(b) - (personal data relating to a third party) The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained in Annex B.