Universal free school meals: FOI release

Information requested

To provide all analyses, figures and statistics on the predicted effect on child poverty in Scotland of rolling out universal free school meals to a) pupils in primary 6 and primary 7; and b) pupils in secondary schools.

Response

Whilst it is our aim to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested due to exemptions under the following sections of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2022: namely s. 30(b)(i) (the free and frank provision of advice); and s. 30(b)(ii) (the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation).

A list of those documents we have released, and which accompany this reply, are listed within Annex A of this letter for your reference.

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 some public interest in understanding the potential impact of policy decisions. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in applying exemptions under section 30(b) of the Act which enables free and frank provision of advice, and exchange of views, to assist with the formulation of government policy.

ANNEX A

Documents attached

The following document has been released in response to your request:

Document 1: Free School Meals - Child Poverty Report 2022 - Analytical criteria for Impact Report details (document attached)

You may also find information contained within the 'tackling child poverty delivery plan: progress report 2022 to 2023' to be within the scope of your request. The report is available through the following web link: Tackling child poverty delivery plan: progress report 2022 to 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The documents, related to this report, which may be of particular interest in relation to your request are:

Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan - Annual Progress Report: Annex B - Cumulative Impact Assessment Update: Supporting documents - Tackling child poverty delivery plan - annual progress report: annex b - cumulative impact assessment update - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2022 - 2026 - Annex 4: Cumulative Impact Assessment: Supporting documents - Tackling child poverty delivery plan 2022-2026 - annex 4: cumulative impact assessment - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

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 202300365474 - Information Released - Document 1

File type

5 page PDF

File size

110.7 kB