Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

32 International relations

(1) Information is exempt information if—

(a) its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially—

(i) relations between the United Kingdom and any other State;

(ii) relations between the United Kingdom and any international organisation or international court;

(iii) the interests of the United Kingdom abroad; or

(iv) the promotion or protection by the United Kingdom of its interests abroad; or

(b) it is confidential information obtained from—

(i) a State other than the United Kingdom; or

(ii) an international organisation or international court.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), information obtained from a State, organisation or court is confidential at any time while—

(a) the terms on which that information was obtained require it to be held in confidence; or

(b) the circumstances in which it was obtained make it reasonable for the State, organisation or court to expect that it will be so held.

(3) In subsection (1)—

• “international court” means an international court which—

  (a)

  is not an international organisation; and

  (b)

  is established—

  (i)

  by a resolution of an international organisation of which the United Kingdom is a member; or

  (ii)

  by an international agreement to which the United Kingdom is a party;

• “international organisation” means—

  (a)

  an international organisation whose members include any two or more States; or

  (b)

  an organ of such an international organisation;

• “State” includes—

  (a)

  the government of any State; and

  (b)

  any organ of such a government,

  and references to a State other than the United Kingdom include references to any territory outwith the United Kingdom.