Recruitment of Expert Working Group on Ending Conversion Practices members: FOI release

Information requested

Documents including (but not limited to) internal and external correspondence, policy papers and minutes of meeting relating to the selection and appointment of members of the Scottish Government’s Expert Working Group on Ending Conversion Practices.

Specifically:

(i) The process followed to make appointments;
(ii) The means by which individuals were identified for consideration; and
(iii) The criteria against which each individual’s knowledge and experience was assessed to determine that they had adequate and appropriate expertise.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested.

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 an exemptions under sections 29, 30, and 38 of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons for the application of the exemptions are outlined below.

The exemption under Section 38(b) of FOISA has been applied throughout the documents as there was personal information which is exempt from disclosure. This information included people's names, contact details, and information relating to those people which could allude to their identity.

The exemption under Section 30 of FOISA has been applied to some documents as there information where disclosure would, or would be likely to, cause substantial harm to the free and frank provision of advice and exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation.

The exemption under Section 29 of FOISA has been applied to some documents where information related to the formulation or development of government policy, Ministerial communications, the provision of advice by any of the Law Officers, and the operation of any Ministerial private office.

Exemptions under sections 29 and 30 of FOISAs are 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 release for the interest in being open and transparent. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in ensuring the opportunity is given to discuss topics at preliminary stages of consideration, as well as allowing for free and frank exchange of advice.

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 202400393491 - Information released - Attachments 1 - 13

File type

260 page PDF

File size

2.6 MB