FOI/202400412072 · FOI · unclear
Events held by the Scottish Government in the Brussels office: FOI release
Information requested
The number of events held by the Scottish Government international office in Brussels since its creation. A breakdown of the cost of each of these events, including food, drink and entertainment.
Response
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, this is notice that under Section 17 of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. The international Office in Brussels (Scotland House Brussels) opened in 1999. The Scottish Public Finance Manual outlines that retention periods for financial records should comply with those indicated in the Retention and Disposal Schedule for Accounting Records. These currently indicate that financial records should normally be retained for either 6 years or 2 years, depending on the type of record, following the end of the financial year in question.
I have however attached an annex to a recent FOI request which will give you some of the information you have requested from 2022-present.
You will also find further information on events in Scotland House Brussels which has already been published. The link is here https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-government-events-in-brussels-2021/ or ease of reference. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
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
Response While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, this is notice that under Section 17 of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.