Stopping Illegal Immigration and Recognising its Impact on Housing debate materials: FOI release

Information requested

Various material relating to the Scottish Conservative Party Business Debate on 8 October on Stopping Illegal Immigration and Recognising its Impact on Housing.

Response

I enclose a copy of the information you requested in the attached documents.

Exemptions under sections 28(1) (relations within the UK), 29(1)(c) (advice from law officers), 30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice) and 38(1) (b) (personal data relating to third party) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.

A short description of each document included as an attachment has been set out below for ease.

Briefing or speaking notes provided to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing

Document 1: Briefing - Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate - Social Justice and Housing - October 2025
Document 2: Supplementary debate briefing - 8 October 2025
Document 3: Briefing on the David Hume Institute report - 07 October 2025

The speaking notes provided to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing have been redacted under section 30(b)(i). However, the Scottish Parliament official report (Meeting of the Parliament: 08/10/2025 | Scottish Parliament Website) provides a record of the Cabinet Secretary’s speech given during the debate on 8 October.

Briefing or speaking notes provided to any other Cabinet Minister

The speaking notes provided to other ministers have been redacted under section 30(b)(i). However, the Scottish Parliament official report provides a record of the speech given by the Minister for Equalities during the debate on 8 October.

Any correspondence between the office of the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and the Office of the First Minister

Nil return.

Any correspondence between Scottish Government officials with a rank of Deputy Director or higher

Document 4: Email between DD Refugee, Resettlement and Asylum Division and Director for Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights - 7 October 2025
Document 5: Email from the Director for Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights to officials, including Director and DD - 7 October 2025

One email attached within document 5 has been redacted under section 30(b)(i). The other email within document 5 contains the same information as in the email attached as document 4, with email exchanges up until 19.11 on 6 October 2025, and has therefore not been included again here.

Any correspondence between the office of the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Scottish Government officials with a rank of Deputy Director or higher

Document 6: Email from the Cabinet Secretary's PO to officials, including Directors and DDs - 7 October 2025

The final version of the opening speech attached to this email been redacted under section 30(b)(i). Again, a record of the Cabinet Secretary’s speech given during the debate on 8 October can be found in the Scottish Parliament’s official report.

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FOI 202500488337 - Information released - Documents

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