Closure of Glasgow East Women’s Aid (GEWA): FOI release

Information requested

1) Please provide copies of communications (letters or emails) received by the Scottish Government from David Linden (ex-MP), Neil Gray MSP, Unite the Union, and a member of the public raising concerns about staffing issues at Glasgow East Women’s Aid (GEWA). Please provide the details with the actual dates.

2) In an FOI response, the Scottish Government informed that The Corra Foundation, National Drugs Mission (NDM) fund managers, notified the Scottish Government on 14th February 2024 of the potential closure of GEWA. Inspiring Scotland, DES fund managers, notified the Scottish Government on 27th February 2024 that GEWA were appointing liquidators, and that staff would be notified on 29th February 2024. Please provide information regarding any actions taken by the Scottish Government to prevent the closure of GEWA subsequent to these notifications. Additionally, please provide details pertaining to any internal correspondence exchanged between the relevant minister and civil servants about GEWA. Please provide the details with the actual dates.

Response

I enclose a copy of all of the information you requested in part one of your request, for copies of communications (letters or emails) received by the Scottish Government from David Linden (ex- MP), Neil Gray MSP, Unite the Union, and a member of the public raising concerns about staffing issues at Glasgow East Women’s Aid (GEWA).

The enclosure provides the following information as requested:

• Item 1 – Letter from Unite the Union to Angela Constance MSP dated 12/03/2024
• Item 2 – Email from Unite the Union to Angela Constance MSP dated 12/03/2024
• Item 3 – Letter from Unite the Union to Neil Gray MSP dated 15/12/2023
• Item 4 – Email from member of the public to Humza Yousaf FM dated 04/12/2023
• Item 5 – Letter from David Linden MP to Tom Arthur MSP dated 07/12/2023

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we have redacted some information relating to personal information using the exemption at section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA. This exemption means the personal data, the disclosure of which would contravene data protection principles, is redacted. Personal data includes all information that relates to an individual, and includes identifiers such as name, address and date of birth.

In relation to the first element of part 2 of your request, to provide information regarding any actions taken by the Scottish Government to prevent the closure of GEWA subsequent to these notifications, under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. Information regarding any actions taken by the Scottish Government to prevent the closure of GEWA subsequent to these notifications can be accessed here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202400421026/.

In relation to the second element of part 2 of your request, to provide details pertaining to any internal correspondence exchanged between the relevant minister and civil servants about GEWA. Please provide the details with the actual dates, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because an exemption under section 30 (b) (free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views) applies to this information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained below.

Section 30(b) applies as to disclose the advice would inhibit the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. This exemption recognises the need for officials to have a private space within which to have free and frank discussions.

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 disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in allowing a private space within which officials can have free and frank discussions. Premature disclosure is likely to undermine the full and frank discussion of issues between officials, which in turn will undermine the quality of the policy and decision making process, which would not be in the public interest.

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FOI 202400427031 - Information released - Annex

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