Evidence surrounding quotes in relation to vigils at clinics: FOI release

Information requested

‘I note that Scottish Government "are aware that vigils are sometimes held and are aware of patients and occasionally local residents who have raised concerns about these" I also note you have "heard from NHS Board staff about the vigils".

I would like to see all the evidence you hold relating to the 2 quotes, above. For each piece of evidence I would be grateful if you could indicate if it is a primary or secondary source. If not primary, please provide full details of how and from whom the information was communicated to Scottish Government. For example: Back Off Scotland, email <date> Police Scotland, incident ID <date>. No personal details are sought or expected.

I would also like to see the minutes and all supporting documents considered by the Ministerial-led working group from establishment until 31 January 2022.’

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested at Annex A. Please note that this includes the agenda and minutes from the December meeting of the Ministerial-led working group and a paper setting out its draft remit. The working group has however now agreed to publish agendas and minutes of its meetings so we are looking to add these to the Scottish Government website in future.

Some of the correspondence you have requested which Ministers have received from MSPs or members of the public has been disclosed through a separate FOI request. This correspondence is available online at:
https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/foi-eir-release/2021/11/foi-202100243716/documents/foi202100243716---information-released/foi202100243716---information-released/govscot%3Adocument/FOI202100243716%2B-%2BAnnex%2BB.pdf

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not need to provide information which is already reasonably accessible to you. However, if you do not have internet access to view this link, please let me know and I can send you a paper copy. Relevant correspondence which has been sent since that FOI request was received is included at Annex A.

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 under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. This is because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names and personal information about members of the public. Disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in data protection legislation. 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.

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 - 202200282675 - Information released

File type

11 page PDF

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901.8 kB