Female genital mutilation (FGM) questions and funding: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for:

1. The number of women in Scotland protected from FGM as a result of the work under Scotland’s National Action Plan to Prevent and Eradicate FGM, and since the Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Act 2005.
2. The number of incidents in Scotland where FGM was prevented as a result of the work under this strategy and since the Act of 2005.
3. The number of incidents where women in Scotland who have experienced FGM have been provided with support as a result of work under this strategy and since the Act of 2005.
4. The number of FGM perpetrators in Scotland who have been arrested as a result of work under this strategy and since the Act of 2005.
5. The cumulative jail terms served by all FGM perpetrators as a result of work under this strategy and since the Act of 200
6. The total funding provided by government to organisations providing protection from FGM, prevention of FGM, services and support to those who have experienced FGM, and additional funds provided to such as Police Scotland in the work required to hold perpetrators to account – and since the Act of 2005.

Response

The information that we are able to provide is attached in Annex A. You will note that we have outlined the total funding provided by government to organisations providing protection from FGM, prevention of FGM, and services and support to those who have experienced FGM. We have also given information on any additional funds provided to Police Scotland in the work required to hold perpetrators to account under the National Action Plan, and since the 2005 legislation.

However, Section 17(1) of FOISA (information not held) requires the Scottish Government to notify you if it does not have the information you requested. Firstly, the Scottish Government does not have information prior to 2012 because we are not required to hold this information. Secondly, there are some instances where the Scottish Government does not hold information on a certain topic. This is a formal notice under section 17 (1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. Specifically, we are unable to provide:

• Figures on the number of women in Scotland protected from FGM as a result of the work under the National Action Plan and since the 2005 legislation.
• Figures on the number of incidents in Scotland where FGM was prevented as a result of the work under the National Action Plan and since the 2005 legislation.
• Figures on the number of incidents where women in Scotland who have experienced FGM have been provided with support as a result of work under the National Action Plan and since the 2005 legislation.
• Figures on the number of FGM perpetrators in Scotland who have been arrested as a result of the work under the National Action Plan and since the 2005 legislation. You may wish to contact Police Scotland.

The information we have been able to provide in relation to Questions 5 and 6 is attached in Annex A.

Annex A
Question 5 – Cumulative Jail Terms

• To date, there have been no FGM-related prosecutions in Scotland.

Question 6 - Funding for FGM

Financial Year 2015/16

• The Scottish Government provided £66,745 of funding to FGM specific projects.
• The Scottish Government provided a further £561,373 of funding to organisations who have a heavy Honour-Based Violence focus and, who through this, support victims and potential victims of FGM.

Financial Year 2016/17

• The Scottish Government provided £392,056 of funding to FGM specific projects.
• The Scottish Government provided a further £305,154 of funding to organisations who have a heavy Honour-Based Violence focus, and, who through this, support victims and potential victims of FGM.

Financial Years 2017/18 – 2019/2020 (note: in 2017, the Scottish Government moved to a three year funding round system).

• The Scottish Government provided a total of £427,500 over three financial years to FGM specific projects.
• The Scottish Government provided a further £1,550,000 over three financial years to organisations who have a heavy Honour-Based Violence focus and, who through this, support victims and potential victims of FGM.

Funding to Police Scotland

• With regard to the final part of this query, the Scottish Government has not provided any additional funding to Police Scotland.

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