Reports, complaint statistics and datasets relating to aesthetic procedures originating from Save Face: FOI release

Information requested

The following information:

1. Whether the Scottish Government has received complaint statistics, datasets, or reports relating to aesthetic procedures originating from Save Face.
2. Whether complaint data from Save Face has been referenced or relied upon in policy development, consultation responses, or regulatory proposals concerning the aesthetics sector.
3. Whether the Scottish Government has undertaken any independent verification or validation of complaints reported by Save Face before relying upon them.
4. Whether the Scottish Government has received complaints data or practitioner-related information from the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners.
5. Copies of any reports, internal briefings, or correspondence discussing complaints data supplied by Save Face or the JCCP.
6. Whether any assessment has been undertaken regarding the legal authority of non-regulatory organisations to collect and distribute complaints about practitioners.

Response

I enclose a copy of the information we hold in relation to your question 1, 4 and 5.

Some of the information you have requested is available online. I have included a list of these in Annex A. 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(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Some of the information in the documents I have provided is not in scope of the request you have made.

Exemption(s) under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) apply to some of the information you have requested, relating to names and email addresses of individuals.

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.

Regarding question 2, Save Face and JCCP are two of many stakeholder organisations and individuals that Scottish Government has engaged with in developing the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill and The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Non- surgical Procedures) Order 2026.

With regard to your questions 3 and 6, the Scottish Government has not undertaken any independent verification or validation of complaints reported by Save Face, or made any assessment of the legal authority of non-regulatory organisations to collect and distribute complaints about practitioners. The Scottish Government is not responsible for the governance status of Save Face, or JCCP that would be a matter for their Boards and the Professional Standards Authority which accredit their registers of non- surgical procedures providers.

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 202600511008 - Information Released - Annex

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