FOI/202300382790 · FOI · partially withheld
Government Ministers issued with Government phones during January 2019 to October 2023: FOI release
Information requested
Please could you let me know which Government Ministers had been issued with official Government phones during the period 1st January 2019 to 29th October 2023. Please could you let me know the make and model of any such phone. Please could you let me know if official Government phones are issued to anyone other than Ministers. If so, to whom are they issued? I don't ask for the individual names of people, just their grade or position in general terms.
Response
I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested. We have also assumed you are referring to mobile phones supplied by the Scottish Government, when answering this request.
1. Please could you let me know which Government Ministers had been issued with official Government phones during the period 1st January 2019 to 29th October 2023.
Based on the records we hold, information on which Government Ministers were using or were ordered a mobile phone between 1st January 2019 to 29th October 2023 is provided below. Note: We don’t hold records on the exact date that a device was issued to a Minister.
Minister Current Ministerial Role Humza Yousaf MSP First Minister Shona Robison MSP Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery Angela Constance MSP Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs Neil Gray MSP Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy Mairi McAllan MSP Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition Mairi Gougeon MSP Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands Angus Robertson MSP Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Michael Matheson MSP Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Jenny Gilruth MSP Cabinet Secretary for Education & Skills Siobhian Brown MSP Minister for Victims and Community Safety Natalie Don MSP Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise Richard Lochhead MSP Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade Fiona Hyslop MSP Minister for Transport Elena Whitham MSP Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy Tom Arthur MSP Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance Maree Todd MSP Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing & Sport Emma Roddick MSP Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees Graeme Dey MSP Minister for Higher Education, Further Education (& Minister for Veterans) Gillian Martin MSP Minister for Energy Jamie Hepburn MSP Minister for Independence Joe FitzPatrick MSP Minister for Local Government Empowerment & Planning Jenni Minto MSP Minister for Public Health & Women's Health Paul McLennan MSP Minister for Housing Patrick Harvie MSP Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel & Tenant's Rights George Adam MSP Minister for Parliamentary Business
Former Ministers John Swinney MSP – mobile phone ordered but wasn’t used. Kate Forbes – mobile phone ordered but wasn’t used and now assigned to a current Minister Michael Russell MSP Rt Hon James Wolffe QC Keith Brown MSP Clare Haughey MSP Kevin Stewart MSP Ivan McKee MSP Fergus Ewing MSP
2. Please could you let me know the make and model of any such phone.
We can confirm that Ministers have used a range of devices available corporately through our mobile contract, this has in the past included the Samsung J6, iPhone 5S and 7.
However, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the current make and model information you have requested because an exemption(s) under section(s) 30c (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) of FOISA applies to that information.
In considering this exemption we have taken account of the fact that disclosure of information under the FOISA is to “the world at large”, not just to an individual applicant. We are therefore required to consider the effect of releasing the information into the public domain.
We recognise that there is an inherent public interest in openness and transparency regarding the use of Government systems. However, we have to balance this interest with the ability of those conducting Government business to operate safely and securely, as well as to protect our networks and information, all of which is required to enable the conduct of public affairs.
Providing details about the information you have requested into the public domain could subsequently be used by threat actors to evade any controls we might or might not have in place.
We consider that the public interest in ensuring that the security of our systems and processes is not compromised, thereby maintaining ability to conduct affairs of public office, outweighs that of disclosing this information. We have therefore decided to withhold the information.
3. Please could you let me know if official Government phones are issued to anyone other than Ministers. If so, to whom are they issued? I don't ask for the individual names of people, just their grade or position in general terms.
The need for an official Scottish Government issued mobile phone is determined by individual business areas based on their requirements. There is no limit on grade or position that can have a mobile phone.
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.
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
However, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the current make and model information you have requested because an exemption(s) under section(s) 30c (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) of FOISA applies to that information. In considering this exemption we have taken account of the fact that disclosure of information under the FOISA is to “the world at large”, not just to an individual applicant.
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