FOI/202300386135 · FOI · partially withheld
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care meetings November 2023: FOI release
Information requested
A list of meetings attended by / or scheduled to be attended by Michael Matheson between 8 November 2023 and 20 November 2023, including who was attending, subject of meeting etc. Did Michael Matheson or his office have to reschedule, cancel or fail to turn up to any of the above meetings?
Response
Question 1:
I have included some of the information you have requested below:
Date Meeting Title 14/11/2023 Cabinet Meeting 14/11/2023 Decision Time 15/11/2023 Decision Time 16/11/2023 FMQs 16/11/2023 Parliamentary Statement
Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts received are routinely and proactively published in line with the Ministerial Code.
Therefore, this is a formal notice that Section 27(1) (information intended for future publication) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption allows public authorities to refuse to disclose information if they already plan to publish it within the next 12 weeks. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
In addition, this is a formal notice that Section 29(1)(a) (formulation or development of government policy) applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption applies to the release of internal meetings with officials.
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 upholding the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing the information as part of an open, transparent and accountable government. However, there is a greater public interest in allowing a private space for ministers and officials to discuss any given policy with the understand that these conversations will be held in confidence.
Finally, this is a formal notice that Section 29(1)(b) (Ministerial communications) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption applies to the release of internal meetings between ministers.
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 upholding the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing the information as part of an open, transparent and accountable government. However, there is a greater public interest in allowing ministers the ability to discuss their portfolios in confidence.
Question 2:
This is formal notice that Section 29(1)(d) (Ministerial Private Office) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption applies to meeting that had been cancelled and/or rescheduled.
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 upholding the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing the information as part of an open, transparent and accountable government. However, there is a greater public interest in preserving the efficient and effective operation of a Ministerial private office within which meeting can be rescheduled due to other government or parliamentary business.
About FOI
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Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Enquiry Unit Email: ceu@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrews House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Detected exemption language
Therefore, this is a formal notice that Section 27(1) (information intended for future publication) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption allows public authorities to refuse to disclose information if they already plan to publish it within the next 12 weeks. In addition, this is a formal notice that Section 29(1)(a) (formulation or development of government policy) applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption applies to the release of internal meetings with officials. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’.
Attachments
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