FOI/202500477281 · FOI · already published
Documentation relating to Canadian Prime Minister: FOI release
Information requested
Could you supply all documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings, and analysis. which mentions or is/to from Mark Carney, between March 1 2025 and the date of this FOI?
Response
I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested attached to this email in Annex A.
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 of exemptions under sections 25- Information otherwise accessible, 28 – Relations within the United Kingdom, 30(b)(ii) -Substantial inhibition to free and frank exchange of views, 30(c) - Substantial prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs, 32(1)(a) (i) - Substantial prejudice to international relations, and 38(1)(b) – Third party personal data of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why those exemptions apply are explained below.
An exemption under section 25 – Information otherwise accessible applies to some of the information you have requested. This applies to a First Minister letter that is accessible at gov.scot and two media articles that are accessible online. 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(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
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.
An exemption under section 28 – Relations within the United Kingdom applies to some of the information you have requested. This applies to information contained in email chains exchanged between Scottish Government and UK government officials. It applies so as to protect the private space for officials to share free and frank views and to maintain the good relationship between the administrations in the United Kingdom.
This 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 of the interest in disclosing information as part of an open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining relations between the different administrations within the UK.
An exemption under section 30(b)(ii) - Substantial inhibition to free and frank exchange of views of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This applies to information on views exchanged between officials to provide views in the process of formulating advice to ministers or other officials. It applies so as to protect the private space for officials and ministers to share free and frank views as part of the policy making and the policy reporting process.
This 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 of the interest in disclosing information as part of an open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in allowing a private space within which officials and Ministers can provide free and frank views to one another.
An exemption under section 30(c) - Substantial prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This applies to information on views exchanged between officials to provide views in the process of formulating advice to ministers or other officials.
This 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 of the interest in disclosing information as part of an open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in protecting the space for ministers and officials to engage in full and frank discussions with their counterparts in other states.
An exemption under section 32(1)(a)(i) - Substantial prejudice to international relations of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This applies to information contained in email chains exchanged between Scottish Government and UK Government officials.
This 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 of the interest in disclosing information as part of an open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the UK maintaining relations with the states it engages with. It is highly likely that releasing such information would result in substantial prejudice to the UK-Canada relationship.
An exemption under section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This applies to personal information of officials in the Scottish Government, UK Government and members of the public.
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
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 of exemptions under sections 25- Information otherwise accessible, 28 – Relations within the United Kingdom, 30(b)(ii) -Substantial inhibition to free and frank exchange of views, 30(c) - Substantial prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs, 32(1)(a) (i) - Substantial prejudice to international relations, and 38(1)(b) – Third party personal data of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why those exemptions apply are explained below. An exemption under section 25 – Information otherwise accessible applies to some of the information you have requested. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. 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.