FOI/202400440917 · FOI · partially withheld
Vehicles used by the Health Secretary to travel to Football matches: FOI
Information requested
Information concerning the use of government vehicles by Neil Gray to travel to football matches.
1. How many times did he use government vehicles to travel to such matches?
2. Who supplied the tickets on each occasion?
3. What was his declared reason for attending each match?
4. Who did he declare he met at each match?
Response
Mr Gray has represented the Scottish Government at nine football matches which he used a Government car to and from each match.
In terms of how the visits were arranged for Mr Gray, the Scottish FA and SPFL regularly invite Ministers to international matches and domestic cup finals and semi-finals. These provide a good opportunity to engage with a number of football stakeholders on current key issues. Invitations are sent to the Scottish Government by the organising body, either the Scottish Football Association or the Scottish Professional Football League, and, as with any engagement invitation, officials provide advice to Ministers on potential attendance.
I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested. Exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA apply to some of the information you have requested. This means we have redacted information linked to 38(1)(b) relating to personal details of members of the public and Scottish Government officials under the grade of Senior Civil Servant.
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 under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA apply to some of the information you have requested.