The Covid Minutes: Guernsey asked UK to keep some meeting notes secret

Thursday 13 June 2024

Some details of Guernsey’s contribution to a Covid meeting involving UK and other Crown Dependency officials have been redacted at the island’s request.

A Freedom of Information application by Express has led to the release of three months worth of minutes from the previously unreported workings of UK-CDs Covid-19 Contact Group and in all of them, except one set, the only redactions are the names of those attending.

The minutes covered a period in 2021 when the islands were grappling with decisions on how to come out of the second lockdown, the vaccine roll out, and also one of the most controversial moments when top politicians and officials met with visiting British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland at a time of strict isolation restrictions for travellers from which he had been exempted.

At the start of 2021 officials were meeting weekly to discuss the islands’ responses to Covid-19, getting updates on the UK’s position with a big emphasis on travel and things like any medicine and medical equipment supply issues.

In a meeting on 20 April, Guernsey reported having one active case, which was travel-related, and updated those attending on its approach to travel restrictions and plans to enforce isolation requirements by law.

Those representing the island went on to talk about its vaccination programme and plans to roll out the Moderna vaccine.

Three lines are then blacked out before a sentence confirming cruise ships would not be visiting that year.

In answering Express’ FoI request for the minutes, the UK’s Ministry of Justice had to consult with Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man - all considered as “states” other than the UK under the FoI law.

In specific reference to the redaction in the 20 April minutes, the MoJ said: “We can confirm that the jurisdiction which provided the information has explicitly stated that the information was shared with the MoJ in confidence,” the MoJ said.

“As such, disclosure would prejudice UK relations with both that jurisdiction and the wider Crown Dependencies.”

They go on to say: “Disclosure of the confidential information provided by the non-UK jurisdiction in question would undermine the principle of confidentiality which depends on a relationship of trust between that jurisdiction and the UK, and  between the Crown Dependencies and the UK generally. 

“There is a public interest in respecting confidences between the UK and ‘states’ other than the UK under this exemption to ensure that states, international organisations or courts are not deterred from providing information.”