FOI/202500464890 · FOI · partially withheld
First Minister and UK Foreign Secretary meeting information: FOI release
Information requested
1. All notes, briefings, minutes, readouts and communications related to the meeting between First Minister John Swinney MSP and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, MP, at King Charles St; in London on 11 March 2025.
2. Please include any communications with FCDO setting up the meeting in the run up to it and describing its intended purpose.
3. Please provide a list of dates and locations of any subsequent meetings between the two individuals following up the London meeting, including phone calls, and online communications.
Response
In response to your first and second question, I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested at Annex A to this letter.
Exemption(s) under section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some the information you have requested. This is because it relates to the personal data of civil servants below Senior Civil Service grades. 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.
Exemption(s) under section s.30(b)(i) of FOISA applies to some the information you have requested. Information is exempt under sections 30(b)(i) if disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice. This relates to the material in the suggested speaking points in the First Minister's briefing for the meeting with the Foreign Secretary. This information is exempt as it's judged that if released, this disclosure would have an inhibiting effect on the provision of advice or on the exchange on views.
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 importance of freedom of information and for government officials to work in an open and transparent manner. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in protecting the effective conduct of public affairs.
In response to your third question: there have been no subsequent meetings between the First Minister and Foreign Secretary.
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
Exemption(s) under section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some the information you have requested. 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. Exemption(s) under section s.30(b)(i) of FOISA applies to some 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.