FOI/202400404698 · FOI · partially withheld
Scottish Government Capital Block Grant: FOI release
Information requested
a) Any resources prepared for ministers advising on using the claim that the Scottish Government capital block grant is due to contract by almost 10% in real terms over five years, and
b) Any such materials advising ministers on using an updated figure of 8.7% following the UK Budget.
Response
I enclose copies of the information you requested in the Annex to this letter.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance an exemption under section *s.30(b)(ii) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This relates to the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation.
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 releasing discussions of officials for transparency. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation regarding sensitive information.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Detected exemption language
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance an exemption under section *s.30(b)(ii) 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.