Correspondence and meeting information regarding 'Learn to Swim' initiative: FOI release

Information requested

1. To ask the Scottish Government to publish any correspondence between Civil Servants and Ministers and or relevant organisations between 1st November 2025 to 16 January 2026 about the ‘learn to swim’ initiative announced in the 2026-27 budget

2. To ask the Scottish Government to publish a list of meetings held between 1st November 2025 to 16 January 2026 on the ‘learn to swim’ initiative (announced in the 2026-27 budget ) where any Minister, Civil Servant or Scottish Government officials were present.

Response

In response to point 1 I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.

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. 25(1) (otherwise accessible), s.29(1)(a) (formation or development of Scottish Government policy), s.38(1)(b) (personal information) and s.30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained below.

Some of the information you have requested is available from the Scottish Parliament website following a Debate in the Chamber. This can be found at: Meeting of the Parliament: 06/01/2026 | Scottish Parliament Website . Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Exemptions under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) prevents us releasing the personal information of officials who are below the rank of Senior Civil Servant and 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.

Exemptions under section s.29(1)(a) (formation or development of Scottish Government policy) and section s.30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice), are 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 as part of open, transparent and accountable government. However, there is a greater public interest in high quality policy and decision-making, and in the properly considered implementation and development of policies and decisions. This means that Ministers and officials need to be able to consider all available options and to debate those rigorously, to fully understand their possible implications. Their candour in doing so will be affected by their assessment of whether information will be disclosed in the near future, when it may undermine or constrain the Government’s view on that policy while it is still under discussion and development.

In response to point 2 there were no meetings held between 1 November to 16 January on the ‘learn to swim’ initiative where any minister, civil servant of government official were present.

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 202600501987 - Information released - Documents

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