Scottish Ministers (First Minister's use of governmental cars during specified by-election) [2025] ScotIC 001_2025 (08 January 2025)

Scottish Ministers (First Minister's use of governmental cars during specified by-election) [2025] ScotIC 001_2025 (08 January 2025)

The Commissioner determined that the public interest in transparency regarding the use of governmental resources by the First Minister during a by-election outweighed the arguments for exemption, and ordered disclosure of the requested information.

Citation
[2025] ScotIC 001_2025
Parties
Respondent: Scottish Ministers; Applicant: Applicant
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Judgment Date
08 January 2025
Procedural Posture
Freedom of Information Appeal / Decision
Outcome
Appeal allowed
Legal Topics
Use of Governmental Resources, Ministerial Conduct, Disclosure of Information
Administrative Law Freedom of Information Use of Governmental Resources Ministerial Conduct Disclosure of Information

Case Brief

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Parties

Scottish Ministers

Respondent

Applicant

Applicant

Procedural Posture

Freedom of Information Appeal / Decision

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether information regarding the First Minister's use of governmental cars during a specified by-election should be disclosed under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

Ratio Decidendi

The Commissioner determined that the public interest in transparency regarding the use of governmental resources by the First Minister during a by-election outweighed the arguments for exemption, and ordered disclosure of the requested information.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed

Orders

  • Scottish Ministers are ordered to disclose the information regarding the First Minister's use of governmental cars during the specified by-election.