Correspondence regarding grooming gangs: FOI release

Information requested

All documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings, analysis, about grooming gangs in Scotland, from the last three months?

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested in Annex 1 related to the three month period ending 29 May 2025.

Some of the information you have requested has already been provided in a previous Freedom of Information request you submitted on 13 May 2025 (our Reference: 202500465771). I have attached our response to this request again for your information.

Some of the information you have requested is available from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-anti-slavery-commissioner-strategic-plan-2024-to-2026.

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.

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 30(c) (substantial prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs); 30(b)(i) – (substantial inhibition to free and frank provision of advice); 38(1)(b) – (third party personal data); and 29(1)(a) (formulation/development of government policy) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained below.

An exemption(s) under s.38(1)(b) (personal information)of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption relates to personal information and specifically the person data of third parties. This applies in this case as the information you have requested includes detailed data of third parties.

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 s.30(b)(i) (provision of advice) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.

This exemption relates to the free and frank provision of advice.

This exemption is 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 exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because it relates to an issue of concern to the public. However, this is outweighed by the public interest as disclosure of this advice would likely have an inhibiting effect on the provision of advice or on the exchange of views on this matter.

An exemption under s.30(c) (conduct of public affairs) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption relates to the effective conduct of public affairs.

This exemption is 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 exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because it relates to an issue of concern to the public. However, this is outweighed by the public interest as disclosure of this advice would otherwise prejudice substantially the effective conduct of public affairs on this matter.

An exemption under s.29(1)(a) (formulation/ provision of Government policy) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.

This exemption relates to the formulation of Scottish Administration policy.

This exemption is 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 exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because it relates to an issue of concern to the public. However, this is outweighed by the public interest as disclosure of this advice relates to the consideration or development of options and priorities for Scottish Ministers who will subsequently determine which of these should be translated into political action and/ or legislation and when.

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 202500468582 - Information Released - Annex

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