FOI/202500466456 · FOI · partially withheld
Correspondence regarding Middle East aid efforts funding: FOI release
Information requested
All documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings, analysis, about the additional £300,000 funding will be provided to support humanitarian aid efforts in the Middle East through the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal and Scottish charities, SCIAF and Mercy Corps announced on April 22 2025, between March 1 2025 and the date of this FOI?
Response
In response to your request, please find some of the information you have requested attached at Annex A.
An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA (formulation or development of Scottish Government policy) applies to some of the information requested because disclosure of this content would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the early stages of the policy process where options are identified and considered, risks are identified, consultation takes place and recommendations and submissions are presented to Scottish Ministers. Disclosing the content and structure of policy formulation or development would have a prejudicial effect on the effective conduct of public affairs within the Scottish Government.
The above 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 exemptions. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption for the advice.
An exemption under section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA (free and frank exchange of views) applies to some of the information requested because disclosure of this content would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation, and have a prejudicial effect on the effective conduct of public affairs within the Scottish Government. Disclosing the content and structure of free and frank briefing material provided to Scottish Government Ministers would substantially inhibit such briefing in the future.
The above 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 exemptions. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption for the advice.
An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of companies and organisations being considered to provide commercial services.
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. There is no public interest in releasing information which might damage UK interests and/or the commercial interests of UK companies.
An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, ie 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.
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Detected exemption language
An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA (formulation or development of Scottish Government policy) applies to some of the information requested because disclosure of this content would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the early stages of the policy process where options are identified and considered, risks are identified, consultation takes place and recommendations and submissions are presented to Scottish Ministers. The above 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 exemptions. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption for the advice. An exemption under section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA (free and frank exchange of views) applies to some of the information requested because disclosure of this content would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation, and have a prejudicial effect on the effective conduct of public affairs within the Scottish Government.