Scottish Government and UK Government's meeting regarding the Baroness Casey audit: FOI release

Information requested

1. Details of the meeting between Scottish Government and UK Government officials regarding Baroness Casey's audit of group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, including the date of the meeting and a list of attendees.

2. A copy of the briefing pack prepared for the Scottish Government side for this meeting.

3. A copy of the minutes from this meeting.

4. A copy of the briefing packs or other documents prepared for any Scottish Government Minister, particularly the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise and the Minister for Community Safety and Victims, regarding the contents, conclusions or action points of this meeting.

Response

I have provided some of the information you requested. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. The reasons why we do not have some information are explained below.

In response to your request, I can confirm a meeting took place between Scottish Government Education and Justice officials and UK Government Home Office officials to discuss Baroness Casey's Audit publication on 26 June 2025. A briefing pack was not prepared for Scottish Government attendees, nor was a minute taken as it was an official-level meeting.

We are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under section s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that 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 29(1)(a) (policy formulation) of FOISA also applies to some of the information you have requested. This means information is exempt as it relates to the formulation or development of government 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 Scottish Government and UK Government response to child sexual abuse and exploitation. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in ensuring further policy development can be carried out by the Scottish Government on this matter which could be prejudiced by a release of information at this stage.

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.