Clarification on Scotland-specific clinical or biomedical risk assessments: FOI release

Information requested

Clarification on points from previous correspondence (FOISA Ref: 202600502200), including the following:

1.Whether Scottish Ministers relied upon any Scotland-specific clinical or biomedical risk assessment prior to mandating face coverings,

2.Whether any independent Scottish modelling, validation, or safety analysis was commissioned, and 

3.Whether any such assessment evaluated physiological risks, contraindications, or population-specific effects. 

4.If no Scotland-specific assessment was conducted, I request explicit confirmation of that position.

Response

1. Whether Scottish Ministers relied upon any Scotland-specific clinical or biomedical risk assessment prior to mandating face coverings.

The Scottish Government did not commission any specific clinical or biomedical studies of face masks in Scotland, we relied on international evidence as set out in our previous response.

2. Whether any independent Scottish modelling, validation, or safety analysis was commissioned.

As described in the previous response 202600502200 (10 February 2025) we used public attitude surveys – to understand what people were experiencing and how policies could be communicated or designed more effectively.

3. Whether any such assessment evaluated physiological risks, contraindications, or population-specific effects.

The Scottish Government did not carry out any such assessment, international evidence was used.

4. If no Scotland-specific assessment was conducted, I request explicit confirmation of that position.

We confirm that no Scotland-specific assessment was conducted, and that international evidence was used.

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.