Materials related to Hate Crime legislation: FOI releasse

Information requested

You asked for all documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings and analysis, about the hate crime legislation, between March 15 2025 and April 15 2025.

Response

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

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 exemption(s) apply under the below section(s) of FOISA to that information.

• s.30(b)(i) – the free and frank provision of advice s.
• 30(b)(ii) – the free and frank exchange of views s.
• 38(1)(b) – third party personal information

These exemptions, with the exception of s.38(1)(b), are 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 exemptions. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemptions. We recognise that there is some public interest in release in the interest of an open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining a private space for providing Ministerial advice as well as the free and frank exchange of views in order to develop and deliver on Scottish Government policy to best serve the people of Scotland.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202500466206 - Information Released - Annex

File type

PDF

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296.8 kB