The final response will shortly be processed by the Inquiry.Once such information concerning the use of such groups had been provided, the Inquiry asked in September 2023 to be provided with the messages contained within those groups.In July and August 2023, a significant number of Rule 9 requests were sent to individual Ministers, former Ministers and civil servants all requesting evidence concerning WhatsApp and informal communications with Cabinet Secretaries, Ministers, senior civil servants or advisers (whether on Government issued or personal devices) and asking for copies of such messages to be provided.The Scottish Government considers that given the large amount of sensitive and personal information contained within the WhatsApp messages and other informal messaging supplied to it, in order to comply with its data protection obligations there requires to be a clear legal basis for the transfer of such data to the Inquiry (bearing in mind that the High Court case of Cabinet Office v...