Details of meetings discussing One Scotland Hate Crime Campaign: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/18/02915  
Date received: 8 October 2018  
Date responded: 1 November 2018

 

 

1) minutes of all meetings in which the One Scotland Hate Crime Campaign (detailed in this link: https://onescotland.org/campaigns/hate-crime-campaign/#.W7tl0QS8Dbo.twitter) was discussed
2) names and representative organisations of attendees at all such meetings
If my request is denied in whole or in part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the Act. I will also expect you to release all non-exempt material.

 

 

On 9 August the Scottish Government held a meeting with stakeholders to seek feedback on the campaign proposals. The following organisations attended:

The following organisations attended the meeting on 9 August to view the campaign creatives:
COSLA
BEMIS
CEMVO
Central Scotland Regional Equality Council
Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights
Community Safety Glasgow
COPFS
Edinburgh Interfaith Association
Equality Network
Glasgow City Council
I Am Me Project
Inclusion Scotland
Interfaith Scotland
LGBT Youth Scotland
Mental Health Foundation
People First (Scotland)
Police Scotland
SCoJeC

Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society
YouthLink Scotland

 

A minute was not taken at this meeting.

The Scottish Government’s Tackling Prejudice and Building Connected Communities Action Group met on 26 September and the campaign was discussed.

The following organisations attended:

Police Scotland
COPFS
Education Scotland
YouthLink Scotland
Equality and Human Rights Commission
COSLA
BEMIS
Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations (CEMVO)
Equality Network
Interfaith Scotland

 

The minutes of the meeting have not been finalised or approved at this time.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because an exemption under section S.30(b)(ii) – formulation or development of government policy of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption applies are explained below.

 

 

An exemption applies.
An exemption under section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA (free and frank exchange of views) applies to some of the information requested. The minutes of the most recent meeting held on 27 June have not yet been agreed by the Action Group, therefore the Scottish Government is unable to provide this information.

This exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. This exemption recognises the need for officials to have a private space within which to discuss issues and options before the Scottish Government reaches a settled public view. Disclosing the content of these discussions will substantially inhibit such discussions in the future, because there will be a reluctance to provide views fully and frankly if those views are likely to be made public, particularly while these discussions are still ongoing and decisions have not been taken.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in allowing Ministers and officials a private space within which to communicate Premature disclosure is likely to undermine the full and frank discussion of issues, which in turn will undermine the quality of the decision making process, which would not be in the public interest.

 

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