Correspondence regarding Operation Branchform and Operation Koper: FOI release

Information requested

1. All correspondence received and sent by the Scottish Government, including internal, briefings and minutes, regarding sex offenders needing to notify police if they change gender, as discussed here: https://news.stv.tv/politics/conservatives-call-for-sex-offender-gender-change-rule-to-be-fast-tracked offender-gender-change-rule-to-be-fast-tracked -between September 1 2023 and the date of this FOI.

2. All correspondence sent and received by Scottish Government, including internally, briefings, minutes, and meetings held about Operation Branchform, between September 1 2023 and the date of this FOI.

3. All correspondence sent and received by Scottish Government, including internally, briefings, minutes, and meetings held about Operation Koper, between September 1 2023 and the date of this FOI.

4. All correspondence sent and received by Scottish Government, including internally, briefings, minutes, and meetings held about Operation Newbiggin, between September 1 2023 and the date of this FOI.

5. All minutes and notes held from meetings between Jo Farrell and Scottish Government ministers and officials from between September 1 2023 and the date of this FOI, and all correspondence setting up these meetings.

Response

1. In relation to your first request, I enclose a copy of some of the information you have 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 exemptions under sections 29(1)(a) (formulation/ development of government policy), 30(b)(i) Scottish Ministers, special advisers and the Permanent Secretary are covered by the terms of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016. See www.lobbying.scot (free and frank provision of advice), 30(b)(ii) (substantial inhibition to free and frank exchange of views), 36(1) (confidentiality under legal proceedings) and 38(1)(b) (third party personal data) of FOISA apply to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained in Annex A to this letter.

2. In relation to your second request, I enclose a copy of some of the information you have 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 exemptions under sections 36(1) (confidentiality under legal proceedings) and 38(1)(b) (third party personal data) of FOISA apply to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained in Annex A to this letter.

3. In relation to your third request, I enclose a copy of some of the information you have 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 exemptions under sections 36(1) (confidentiality under legal proceedings) and 38(1)(b) (third party personal data) of FOISA apply to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained in Annex A to this letter.

4. In relation to your fourth request, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because an exemption under section 36(1) (confidentiality under legal proceedings) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why this exemption applies are explained in Annex A to this letter.

5. In relation to your fifth request, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because exemptions under sections 27(1) (Information intended for future publication); 12 (exceeds upper cost limit) and 38(1)(b) (personal data of a third party) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained in Annex A to this letter.

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 202400400381 - Information released - Annex A and documents 1 - 3

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16 page PDF

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