FM meeting Strathclyde University's Advanced Forming Research Centre: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
FOI reference: FOI/17/01390
Date received: 21 June 2017
Date responded: 13 July 2017
Information requested
A copy of all background notes and/or briefing/s provided to Scottish Ministers in advance of meetings with repres entatives of Strathclyde University's Advanced Forming Research Centre in the past year. In addition, you have requested a copy of any minutes and notes taken during or subsequent to these meetings.
Response
I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested:
Briefing for First Minister's visit to the Advanced Forming Research Centre on 29 March 2017.
Briefing for First Minister's attendance at the Advanced Forming Research Centre: Opportunities in the UK aerospace supply chain breakfast event on 19 March 2017.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption(s) under sections; 29(1)(a) (Formulation or development of Scottish Government policy), 33(1)(b) (commercial interests), 29(1)(b) of FOISA (ministerial communications) and 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.
Reasons for not providing information
An exemption applies.
An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of the parties to the Lightweight Manufacturing Centre project. An exemption under section 29(1)(b) of FOISA (ministerial communications) applies to some of the information requested.
An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA (Formulation or development of Scottish Government policy) applies to some of the information requested.
These exemptions are 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 applying 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 information as part of open and transparent government, and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of companies which enter into contracts with the Scottish Government, to ensure that we are always able to obtain the best value for public money.
An exemption under section 38(1) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information requested.
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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 Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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