Scottish Violence Reduction Unit funding correspondence: FOI release

Information requested

All correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit which discussed Scottish Government funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit for the period 8th May 2024 – date (30/05).

Additionally, and over the same period, please list all meetings (in person or virtual) between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit where Scottish Government funding of the organisation was discussed. And for each meeting, please provide any briefings prepared in advance of the meeting, and any notes/minutes recording what was discussed at the meeting.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested in PDF format attached to this email.

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 exemptions under sections s.36(2) (actionable breach of confidence) and s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why those exemptions apply are explained in the Annex to this letter.

The list you requested of meetings where annual funding of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit was discussed between them and the Scottish Government is as follows:

• 15 May 2024 – Scottish Violence Reduction Unit Governance Board Meeting
• 16 October 2024 – Scottish Violence Reduction Unit and SG quarterly meeting

Annex A

An exemption applies

An exemption under section 36(2) of FOISA (actionable breach of confidence) applies to some of the information requested because it was obtained from the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit and disclosure would constitute an actionable breach of confidence. This is because the information is confidential, was provided in circumstances which imposed an obligation on the Scottish Government to maintain that confidentiality, and unauthorised disclosure would be to the detriment of the Scottish  Violence Reduction Unit who provided the information. 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.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, ie names, contact details, bank details, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. 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 https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202500468570 - Information Released - Annex

File type

PDF

File size

2.6 MB