Former Minister for Equalities meeting with Robin White regarding ending conversion therapy/practices: FOI release

Information requested

Minutes from the meeting between Emma Roddick MSP and Robin White of 5 March 2024, as well as how long the meeting lasted and who attended.

Response

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

The answer to your question is that the meeting lasted for 30 minutes. It was attended by Emma Roddick MSP (at the time acting as Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees), Robin White, and three Scottish Government officials. The Scottish Government officials were members of Ms Roddick's Private Office, and the Ending Conversion Practices Bill Team.

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 exemption(s) under section(s) s.29(1)(a) (policy formulation) and s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained below.

An exemption(s) under section(s) s.29(1)(a) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because the ongoing development of policy in relation to conversion practices was the primary focus of the meeting.

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 release as part of an open, transparent and accountable government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in high quality policy and decision-making, and in the properly considered implementation and development of policies and decisions. This relies on open and rigorous debate, to fully understand all possible implications. Candour in doing so will be affected by assessment of whether the discussions will be disclosed in the near future, which in turn may undermine or constrain the Government’s view on that policy while it is still under discussion and development.

An exemption(s) under section(s) s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names, 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.

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FOI 202400424494 - Information released - Annex

File type

1 page PDF

File size

100.1 kB