FOI/202500498808 · FOI · partially withheld
Correspondence regarding GB News: FOI release
Information requested
All internal Scottish Government email correspondence about GB News from 1 November 2025.
Response
To respond to your request, we conducted a thorough search of the following business areas which were identified as most likely to hold relevant correspondence:
Communications News Ministerial Private Offices Special Advisers' Office Broadcast policy
These areas were selected because of their responsibilities for media relations, ministerial communications and broadcasting matters.
We also searched the Scottish Government's Electronic Record and Document Management Systems and the MiCase system using relevant search terms including "GB News", “gbnews.com” and “gbnews.uk”.
Emails where GB News is a substantive focus are included, but not incidental references (for example, where GB News appears in a simple list of outlets that covered a story).
I enclose a copy of the information you requested in the Annex. This comprises 25 emails dated 4 November and 5 November 2025.
Some information has been redacted as it falls outside the scope of your request.
Section 38 (1)(b) – Personal data
Names, email addresses and other personal data of junior officials and third parties have been redacted. This information is exempt from disclosure under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information), as release would contravene the data protection principles set out in Article 5(1)(a) of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. Disclosing this information would be unlawful as these individuals have a reasonable expectation that their personal data would not be made public in this context and there is no overriding public interest in disclosure.
Section 30(b)(ii) – Free and frank exchange of views
An exemption under section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA (free and frank exchange of views) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. This exemption recognises the need for Ministers and officials to have a private space within which to discuss and explore options before the Scottish Government reaches a settled public view.
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
Section 38 (1)(b) – Personal data Names, email addresses and other personal data of junior officials and third parties have been redacted. This information is exempt from disclosure under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information), as release would contravene the data protection principles set out in Article 5(1)(a) of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. Section 30(b)(ii) – Free and frank exchange of views An exemption under section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA (free and frank exchange of views) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. This exemption recognises the need for Ministers and officials to have a private space within which to discuss and explore options before the Scottish Government reaches a settled public view.