Ukraine Scottish Refugee Council correspondence: FOI release

Information requested

Correspondence between Scottish Refugee Council (SRC) and Scottish Government (SG) regarding:

Q1. The suggestion and introduction of any expanded service or funding related to Ukraine.

Q2. The First Minister's visit to SRC on 16 March.

Q3. The use of temporary accommodation - including hotels, tower blocks and cruise liners - in response to Ukraine.

Q4. If there has been only one grant discussed with SRC.

Response

Response to Question 1-3:

The information held by the Scottish Government that falls within the scope of your request has been attached for your reference. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because exemptions under FOISA apply. The details of why these exemptions apply are explained below. In this instance, an exemption under Section 38(1)(b) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names and contact details, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

Additionally, Section 29 of Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) exempts information from disclosure if it relates to (ii) Ministerial communications. The public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption because premature disclosure may include misrepresented or incorrect information. Final correspondence is available to the public at: News - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

Furthermore, Section 30 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) exempts information from disclosure where disclosure would, or would be likely to (ii) inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice. Disclosing the content of free and frank briefing material will substantially inhibit such briefing in the future, particularly because discussions on the issue relate to an ongoing matter. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government. However, there is a greater public interest in allowing a private space within which officials and stakeholders can provide full and frank advice to as part of the process of exploring and refining the Government’s policy, until the Government as a whole can adopt a policy decision that is sound and likely to be effective. This private thinking space is essential to enable all options to be properly considered, based on the best available advice, so that good policy decisions can be taken. Disclosure would undermine the quality of the policy decision making process, which would not be in the public interest. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.

Response to Question 4:

There has been one grant discussed with the Scottish Refugee Council. Under the Warm Scottish Welcome Scheme, the Scottish Ministers have allocated the Scottish Refugee Council a grant of up to £1,300,000 between the period of 1 March 2022 to 31 March 2023.

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.

FOI 202200315249 - Information released

File type

30 page PDF

File size

935.7 kB