First Minister meeting with Arab Ambassadors on 11th March 2024: FOI release

Information requested

1). Was a representative from the UK Government present at all times at this meeting.?

2). Was a Scottish Government official present?

3). Will a full unredacted minute of the discussions at this meeting be available from your office (assuming that notes were taken and not deleted)?

Response

In response to question 1, no representative of the UK Government was present at the meeting, however the UKG Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) were informed of the engagement in advance of the discussion. For clarity the Scottish Government is not required to seek the approval of the UKG to engage with diplomatic representatives of international partners posted to the UK. Indeed the FCDO recognise that developing relationships with the diplomatic community is a routine and legitimate function of the Scottish Government.

In response to question 2, yes a Scottish Government official was present.

With regards to question 3, as is standard procedure for meetings undertaken by Scottish Ministers with diplomatic representatives, a minute of the discussion has been recorded. Minutes of the First Minister’s meeting with representatives of international partner countries are not routinely published, however through standard FoI process you can request a copy of that note. As set out under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) there may be information within the minute which is subject to exemptions and therefore not releasable.

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.