FOI/202500472827 · FOI · partially withheld
Details of the Business Minister's recent meetings in Beijing: FOI release
Information requested
Minutes from Mr Lochhead’s recent meetings in Beijing, setting out who was in attendance and what FCDO officials were there.
Response
I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.
Please note, in accordance with FOI guidance, we do not disclose details about all officials (outside of the Senior Civil Service) attending meetings. I can confirm that on his visit, Mr Lochhead met relevant UK Government representatives in China.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide most of the information you have requested because . exemptions under sections: s.30(b) – Free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views; s.33(1)(b) Commercial interests; and s.38(1)(b) Personal data relating to third party of FOISA apply to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained below.
Exemptions under section s.30(b) – free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. 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 a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent, and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in allowing a private space within which officials can provide full and frank advice to Ministers and other officials. This private thinking space is essential to enable all options to be properly considered, based on the best available advice. Premature disclosure is likely to undermine the full and frank discussion of issues between Ministers and officials, which in turn will undermine the quality of the decision-making process, which would not be in the public interest.
Exemptions under section s.33(1)(b) Commercial interests of FOISA applies to most of the information you have requested. These exemptions are 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. However, this is outweighed by the public interest, due to the sensitive nature of some of the information and because disclosure would have a detrimental effect on commercial interests.
Exemptions under section s.38(1)(b) Personal data relating to third party of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This includes the names and contact details of third parties, including government officials. Disclosing this information 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
exemptions under sections: s.30(b) – Free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views; s.33(1)(b) Commercial interests; and s.38(1)(b) Personal data relating to third party of FOISA apply to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained below. Exemptions under section s.30(b) – free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. 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.