Sexual misconduct in sport meetings: FOI release

Information requested

A record of meetings involving Scottish Government officials and any internal or external parties (such as individuals, campaign organisations, governing body representatives, other elected officials) on the topic of sexual misconduct in sport since January 1st, 2017. Including the date of each meeting, the subject of each meeting, which Scottish Government official(s) were in attendance, the name of other individuals and/or organisations in attendance; and any minutes or other documents regarding the meeting that are fit for disclosure.

Response

As per your request, I have provided below a table of meetings which have taken place since 1st January 2017. I have included the relevant meeting documents which are signposted within the table.

An exemption under sections S.38(1)(b) Personal Information of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. These exemptions prevents us releasing the personal information of officials who are below the rank of Senior Civil Servant. 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.

An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA (formulation or development of government policy) applies to some the information requested because it relates to the development] of the Scottish Government’s policy on position of trust legislation. 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 high quality policy and decision-making, and in the properly considered implementation and development of policies and decisions. This means that Ministers and officials need to be able to consider all available options and to debate those rigorously, to fully understand their possible implications. Their candour in doing so will be affected by their assessment of whether the discussions on position of trust will be disclosed in the near future, when it may undermine or constrain the Government’s view on that policy while it is still under discussion and development.

Date	Subject	Official	Organisation/Individual	Minutes/Other docs	Document Number
2 February 2017	Meeting with NSPCC	[redacted - s.38(1)(b) - personal information]	NSPCC	Meeting note available.	Document 1
25 March 2021	Ministerial meeting with Children 1st	[redacted - s.38(1)(b) - personal information]	Maree Todd Sportscotland Children 1st	Meeting briefing available.	Document 5
1 February 2022	Abuse in Sport	[redacted - s.38(1)(b) - personal information]	Maree Todd Kyniska Advocacy sportscotland	Meeting briefing available.	Document 2
17 May 2022	Meeting with Val McDermid	[redacted - s.38(1)(b) - personal information]	Maree Todd [redacted - s.38(1)(b) - personal information]	Meeting briefing available.	Document 3
15 December 2022	Positions of Trust	[redacted - s.38(1)(b) - personal information]	Scottish Government Active Scotland Unit and Criminal Justice Team.	No meeting documents available.	Document 4
31 May 2023	Sexual Misconduct in Sport Roundtable	[redacted - s.38(1)(b) - personal information]	Maree Todd End Sexual Misconduct in Sport Paul O’Kane, MSP MSPs Rape Crisis Scotland Kyniska Advocacy Scottish Women in Sport	Briefing and note of meeting.	Document 8
11 September 2023	Safeguarding	[redacted - s.38(1)(b) - personal information]	Sportscotland	No meeting documents available.	Document 9.
20 September 2023	Discussion on their inclusion in the meeting on 01/11/23	[redacted - s.38(1)(b) - personal information]	Internal SG Policy Teams – Faith and Belief Policy and Active Scotland Unit	No meeting documents available.	No documents to release.
25 September 2023	Meeting with Children 1st	[redacted - s.38(1)(b) - personal information]	Maree Todd Children 1st	Briefing and note of meeting.	Document 10
25 October 2023	Meeting with End Sexual Misconduct in Sport	[redacted - s.38(1)(b) - personal information]	Maree Todd End Sexual Misconduct in Sport Sportscotland	Briefing and note of meeting.	Document 7
1 Nov 2023	Positions of Trust	[redacted - s.38(1) (b) - personal information]	Internal SG Policy Teams – Faith and Belief Policy, Child Protection, Criminal Justice, Connected Communities and Active Scotland Unit	No meeting documents available.	Document 6 and Document 11

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FOI 202300384504 - Information released - Documents

File type

119 page PDF

File size

2.6 MB