Disclosure of French, Catholic and learning disability information: FOI release

Information requested

Between 12/10/2021 - 30/5/2022, please disclose all and any information concerning:

1. All incidences at this organisation of anti French racism.
2. All incidences at this organisation of anti Catholic sectarianism.
3. All incidences at this organisation of anti Learning disabled ablism.
4. All initiatives at this organisation to promote appreciation of the French identity.
5. All initiatives at this organisation to promote appreciation of the Catholic faith.
6. All initiatives at this organisation to promote appreciation of Learning disability.
7. All receptions at this organisation of French people.
8. All receptions at this organisation of Catholic people.
9. All receptions at this organisation of Learning disabled people.

Response

In your request, you have asked for information about the Scottish Government. Our response provides information on incidences, initiatives and receptions for the categories which you have requested for the core directorates within the Scottish Government (see Annex A for details).

While our aim is to provide information wherever possible, managers in the Scottish Government are encouraged to deal with concerns about any unacceptable behaviour at an early stage and on an informal basis, where it is appropriate to do so. There is no requirement to report informal action to HR and therefore no information is held centrally about cases that have been dealt with informally.

The information which we have provided in this response for elements A to C is based upon details held about cases which have been referred to HR for formal action.

When gathering the information required to populate this response, we have used the following definitions of Sectarianism and Ableism.

Definition of Sectarianism

Sectarianism in Scotland is a mixture of perceptions, attitudes, actions, and structures that involves overlooking, excluding, discriminating against or being abusive or violent towards others on the basis of their perceived Christian denominational background. This perception is always mixed with other factors such as, but not confined to, politics, football allegiance and national identity.

Source: Legal definition of sectarianism working group: final report – The Scottish Government – Published 14 November 2018

Definition of Ableism

Ableism - Ableism is discrimination in favour of non-disabled people.

Source: Disablism and ableism | Disability charity Scope UK

Our responses to the individual elements of your request are as follows:

1. There were no formally reported incidences of anti French racism during the time frame covered by your request.
2. There were no formally reported incidences of anti Catholic sectarianism during the time frame covered by your request.
3. There were no formally reported incidences of anti Learning disabled ablism during the time frame covered by your request.
4. There were four initiatives/events which the Scottish Government undertook to promote appreciation of the French identity during the time frame in question. Details of these initiatives/events are provided in Annex B.
5. There were no initiatives undertaken by the Scottish Government to promote appreciation of the Catholic faith during the time frame covered by your request.
6. There were no initiatives undertaken by the Scottish Government to promote appreciation of Learning disability during the time frame covered by your request. However, the Scottish Government’s Internal Communications team works in conjunction with the Diversity and Inclusion Team and the Disabled Staff Network to regularly promote the actions being taken to ensure the organisation is inclusive for all.
   
   The Scottish Government has set out our commitment to people with a learning disability and their families through the Keys to Life Learning Disability strategy and the Learning/Intellectual Disabilities and Autism: Towards Transformation Plan. Both strategies focus on outcomes intended to ensure people with a learning disability live healthier lives, enjoy choice and control over the services they use, and are supported to be independent and active citizens. They look at the actions needed to shape supports, services and attitudes to ensure that the human rights of people with learning/intellectual disabilities, and autistic people, are respected and protected and that they are empowered to live their lives, the same as everyone else.
   
   As part of this work, we are carrying out our new leadership and engagement work through which lived experience will be at the heart and threaded through the whole process. It is an opportunity to bring people with lived experience together around the same table as people responsible for providing services nationally and locally. This process looks to empower people with learning disabilities, and autistic people, to be the leaders in transforming Scotland and to engage people with the ability to make the changes needed by those with lived experience.
   
   The Scottish Government has also committed to introducing a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill. This Bill will ensure that the rights of people with learning disabilities, among others, are respected and protected. To help make sure this new legislation is championed when it is implemented we are looking to create a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodiversity Commissioner through the new law. The First Minister announced in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government on the 7th of September 2021 that the Government will carry out scoping work on the remit and powers of this Bill in this Parliamentary year.
7. There were four receptions held by the Scottish Government for delegations of French people during the time frame set-out in your request. Details of these receptions are provided in Annex C.
8. I can confirm that there were no receptions held by the Scottish Government of Catholic people during the time frame set-out in your request.
9. I can confirm that there were no receptions held by the Scottish Government of Learning disabled people during the time frame set-out in your request.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

Annex A-C - 202100240659

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