FOI/202300383319 · FOI · withheld
Attendees and details of Director-General Corporate meetings regarding Covid-19 Inquiry: FOI release
Information requested
1. All meetings between any current or former Scottish Minister and the Director-General Corporate of the Scottish Government regarding the Covid Inquiry, the Scottish Government’s Record/Information Management Policy or the mobile messaging apps - usage and policy guidance (including any draft versions of that policy). Please provide the minutes of these meetings going back to 1 June 2021 and any actions that were taken following these meetings either by Scottish Ministers or the Director- General Corporate.
2. All meetings between any current or former Scottish Government Special Adviser and the Director- General Corporate of the Scottish Government regarding the Covid Inquiry, the Scottish Government’s Record/Information Management Policy or the mobile messaging apps - usage and policy guidance (including any draft versions of that policy). Please provide the minutes of these meetings going back to 1 June 2021 and any actions that were taken following these meetings either by Scottish Ministers or the Director-General Corporate.
3. All correspondence between any current or former Scottish Minister and the Director-General Corporate of the Scottish Government regarding the Covid Inquiry, the Scottish Government’s Record/Information Management Policy or the mobile messaging apps - usage and policy guidance (including any draft versions of that policy). This correspondence should include emails, letters, instant messages (such as WhatsApps) and phone/zoom calls. Please provide correspondence dating back to 1 June 2021.
Response
Please see Annex attachment to this response for answers to Questions 1 and 2 .
An exemption(s) Section 30(b)(i) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested namely question 3.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested
Section 30(b)(i) Information is exempt under 30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice) because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice for the purposes of deliberation. This exemption recognises that disclosing the content of free and frank provision of advice with the Scottish Covid Inquiry will substantially inhibit such advice in the future, particularly because these discussions are still ongoing and this advice relates to sensitive issues.
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
An exemption(s) Section 30(b)(i) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested namely question 3. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested Section 30(b)(i) Information is exempt under 30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice) because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice for the purposes of deliberation. This exemption recognises that disclosing the content of free and frank provision of advice with the Scottish Covid Inquiry will substantially inhibit such advice in the future, particularly because these discussions are still ongoing and this advice relates to sensitive issues.