Programme Risks Register Artefacts papers submitted to Social Security Programme Board:FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/18/02098
Date received: 3 August 2018 
Date responded: 3 September 2018
 
Information requested

A list of the risks included in the Programme Risks Register Artefacts papers submitted to the Social Security Programme Board since September 2017. You also requested: the number of those risks which appear under each risk category, as well as those categories and how many risks have been regarded as tolerable, treat, transfer and terminate.

Response

Exemptions apply to your request (see Annex A), however, included is a summary of the risk categories and the number in each category (see Annex B). Please note we treat every risk on this list.

Reasons for not providing information

We do endeavour to provide information whenever possible. However, in this instance exemptions under section s.29(1)(a), s.30(b)(i) and s.30(b)(ii) of FOISA applies to some of the information requested.
Section 29(1)(a) applies to any information which relates to the formulation or development of Scottish Government policy. Section 30(b)(i) applies where disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice. Section 30(b)(ii) applies where disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. Risk Register Artefacts are used to enable the free and frank provision of advice for critical discussion to aid decision making. These deliberations are directly related to the development of Scottish Government policy.
As the exemption is conditional, we have applied the ‘public interest test’. This means we have, in all the circumstances of this case, 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. While we recognise that there is some public interest in release as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate, this is outweighed by the vital public interest in ensuring that Social Security Programme Board meetings lead to high quality, fully considered decision making. Ministers and officials need to have a private space within which to consider the evidence, debate their findings, and explore all available options before reaching settled policy decisions.

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FOI-18-02098 - Risk categories and number in each category

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