FOI/202400444866 · FOI · not held
Engagements attended by Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity: FOI release
Information requested
A list of Jim Fairlie’s engagements as Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity from 1 November 2024 and the minutes of those engagements.
Response
List of engagements
I enclose a copy of the engagements attended by Mr Fairlie as Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity at Annex A. It may be helpful to note ministerial engagements, travel and gifts received are routinely published on the Scottish Government in line with the Scottish Ministerial Code (Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scot).
Minutes of engagements
I enclose a copy of some of the information requested at Annex B which includes all completed minutes and notes of meetings. It may be helpful to note that a record should be taken at meetings where government business is discussed. At engagements such as speeches and conferences where no meetings are held there is no requirement for minutes to be taken. I can confirm we do not hold the remainder of the minutes and notes requested as they are currently in the process of being drafted or pending clearance by the Minister. Therefore I am formally notifying you that this information is exempt under Section 17(1) of FOISA.
An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information in Annex B as it relates to the personal information of third party individuals. 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.
Further exemptions under sections 28 (UK relations), 29(1)(a)&(b) (development of policy and Ministerial communications), and 33(1)(b) (commercial confidentiality) of FOISA applies to some of the information in Annex B due to the sensitive nature that some discussions with Ministers can entail.
These exemptions are all 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 exemptions. We recognise that there is public interest in the work of the Scottish Government, however there is a greater public interest in allowing Ministers and officials stakeholders a private space within which to discuss sensitive matters in a candid manner, and in a way that does not harm the commercial interests of stakeholders.
Some of the information that you have requested has already been published and can be found on the Scottish Government Website.
About FOI
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Detected exemption language
Therefore I am formally notifying you that this information is exempt under Section 17(1) of FOISA. An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information in Annex B as it relates to the personal information of third party individuals. 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. Further exemptions under sections 28 (UK relations), 29(1)(a)&(b) (development of policy and Ministerial communications), and 33(1)(b) (commercial confidentiality) of FOISA applies to some of the information in Annex B due to the sensitive nature that some discussions with Ministers can entail. These exemptions are all subject to the 'public interest test'.