Sex Work/Prostitution Legislation: FOI release

Information requested

The following information regarding new legislation concerning sex work/prostitution in Scotland:

Membership of all working groups currently involved in preparing new legislation concerning sex work/prostitution and minutes from their meetings from June 2021 to date.

Membership of the ‘reference group’ for this legislation, the number of meetings convened since inception of the group, and minutes from any meetings from June 2021 to date.

Membership of any short-term expert groups involved in the preparation of legislation, the number of meetings convened since inception of the group and minutes from any meetings from June 2021.

Response

As you may know, our Programme For Government includes a commitment to develop a model for Scotland which effectively tackles and challenges men’s demand for prostitution.

This model will aim to reduce stigma and criminalisation experienced by women and encourage better access to services. Ensuring that women are supported and that services are responsive to their needs is central to this work.

There are several considerations which must be made in designing the model, including ensuring it’s alignment to the Equally Safe Strategy and our unique legal landscape in Scotland. The model must operate effectively not only to hold those who buy sex to account, but to deter them from purchasing sex. Any changes proposed to the current criminal law would require legislation to be brought before Parliament in the normal way in due course.

A Short Life Working Group with key stakeholders is helping develop the fundamental principles to underpin a model for Scotland. These principles will be in line with Scottish Government aspirations to embed equality and human rights in Scotland and support our efforts to tackle men’s violence against women. The principles will be published later this year.

Considerations related to legislation were not part of this, or any other existing working/ reference group’s remit. Therefore, in relation to your request, the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested because no activity took place “preparing new legislation concerning sex work/prostitution”.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information requested.

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.