CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM – EXAMPLES OF FOI REQUESTS

1.Requests for internal paperwork such as staff briefings and risk registers:

  • all risk registers and risk assessments (since 1 May 2007) held in relation to the Scottish Government's policy on holding a constitutional referendum.
  • Scottish Enterprise consulted the SG about request a request they received for their briefing to staff on constitutional reform.

2.Requests for details of discussions with UKG (in some cases matched by simultaneous requests to UKG depts for their contact with us):

  • all correspondence (including emails) in the past three months between Government Special Advisers or officials and representatives of the SCVO and/or representatives of the ‘Future of Scotland’ group.
  • all contact SG has had with an American organisation ‘Americans for an Independent Scotland’ and the people mentioned on their website: Peter Reid, Colin Reid and Malcolm Boyd.

3.Requests for details of policy development/direction:

  • all items of information held by the Scottish Executive Justice department related to the establishment of a domestic Scottish Intelligence Service, or a Secret Intelligence Service, whether within the devolution settlement or following Scottish independence.
  • all items of information held by the Scottish Executive’s Justice department related to the establishment of an overseas-focused Scottish Intelligence Service, or Secret Intelligence Service, whether within the devolution settlement or following Scottish Independence.
  • all published and unpublished documents, emails, evidence, legal advice, advice to ministers, plus any other relevant material The Scottish Government, Ministers, Civil Servants, Special Advisors and other staff have sent or received regarding whether an independent Scotland will become a successor state to the European Union or will become an accession country and have to reapply for entry.
  • all published and unpublished documents, emails, evidence, legal advice, advice to ministers, plus any other relevant material The Scottish Government, Ministers, Civil Servants, Special Advisors and other staff have sent or received regarding whether an independent Scotland will be required to join the euro currency.
  • all published and unpublished documents, emails, evidence, legal advice, advice to ministers, plus any other relevant material The Scottish Government, Ministers, Civil Servants, Special Advisors and other staff have sent or received regarding whether an independent Scotland will be required to join the Schengen area.
  • all published and unpublished documents, emails, evidence, legal advice, advice to ministers, plus any other relevant material The Scottish Government, Ministers, Civil Servants, Special Advisors and other staff have sent or received regarding whether an independent Scotland will be able to join the UK/Ireland Free Travel Area.
  • all published and unpublished documents, emails, evidence, legal advice, advice to ministers, plus any other relevant material The Scottish Government, Ministers, Civil Servants, Special Advisors and other staff have sent or received regarding whether an independent Scotland would retain the UK’s European budget rebate if it remains in the European Union.
  • all published and unpublished documents, emails, evidence, legal advice, advice to ministers, plus any other relevant material The Scottish Government, Ministers, Civil Servants, Special Advisors and other staff have sent or received regarding the likelihood of Scotland or England erecting border posts if Scotland becomes independent.
  • all published and unpublished documents, emails, evidence, legal advice, advice to ministers, plus any other relevant material The Scottish Government, Ministers, Civil Servants, Special Advisors and other staff have sent or received regarding the likelihood of other European Member States vetoing Scotland's entry to the EU if it becomes independent.

4.Requests for information on the staffing and costs of constitutional work:

  • the names of all consultants/consultancy firms hired to work on a) the Government’s plan for a constitutional referendum b) independence for Scotland. In each case, state how much was paid out, and the purpose of each payment.
  • how many full-time equivalent staff, at what grade, job title and from what department are (a) currently and (b) in each year since 2007 have been, deployed working on constitutional policy and the referendum on constitutional change.
  • What are the titles and remits of all government (a) work streams, (b) projects, (c) departments, (d) work groups, (e) committees, etc. currently in operation that relate to constitutional policy and the referendum on constitutional change.