Lung Cancer Screening Implementation Group: FOI release

Information requested

‘Further to the minutes of the Scottish Screening Committee meeting in January 2023, stating that “SG and NSO [National Screening Oversight] will be taking forward a lung cancer screening implementation group”, please tell me on what dates this group has met, who is a member of the group, and who it reports to. Please provide a copy of all the documents that accompanied its meetings, including papers, minutes and any reports or outcomes it produced.’

Response

I enclose some of the information you requested.

The dates of which the Scottish Expert Advisory Group has met are:

• Monday 7th August 2023
• Thursday 14th March 2024
• Tuesday 14th May 2024
• Friday 7th June 2025

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(s) under section(s) 30(b), 29(1)(a) and 38 (1)(b) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

Annex A
An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (Third party data) applies to the names held on the membership list for the Scottish Expert Advisory Group which fall under the category of personal data and as such have been redacted.

An exemption under section 30(b) of FOISA (free and frank provision of advice) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice. This exemption recognises the need for officials to have a private space within which to provide free and frank advice to Ministers and other officials as well as receive advice from organisations and groups before the Scottish Government reaches a settled public view. Disclosing the content of free and frank advice utilised within the Scottish Expert Advisory Group on establishing a lung screening programme will substantially inhibit the provision of such advice in the future, particularly because these discussions and decision making are still ongoing.

In addition, an exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA (formulation or development of government policy) applies to all of the information requested because it relates to the development of the Scottish Government’s policy on the rollout of the targeted lung screening programme.

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 a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in allowing a private space within which officials can provide and receive full and frank advice to Ministers, officials and other organisations, as part of the process of exploring and refining the Government’s policy position on the process of implementing a lung screening programme, until the Government as a whole can adopt a decision that is sound and likely to be effective. This private thinking space is essential to enable all options to be properly considered, based on the best available advice, so that good policy decisions can be taken. Premature disclosure is likely to undermine the full and frank discussion of issues between Ministers and officials, which in turn will undermine the quality of the policy and decision making process, which would not be in the public interest.

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.