Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for information concerning Scottish Government correspondence with external stakeholders following the Stage 1 debate on the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill on 5 February 2026.

You cited correspondence released under FOI reference 202600510938.

You asked for:

1. Copies of the Scottish Government’s outgoing email or emails of 6 February 2026 requesting views or rebuttal material concerning arguments raised during the Stage 1 debate, including all attachments.

2. Copies of all replies and attachments received from the British College of Aesthetic Medicine and any other external recipient.

3. Copies of any similar requests sent to other external organisations, clinicians, professional associations, voluntary registers or stakeholder group members between 5 and 24 February 2026 concerning arguments raised during the Stage 1 debate.

4. Internal emails, Microsoft Teams messages, notes, instructions or other recorded information identifying who proposed, authorised or approved the decision to obtain rebuttal material from external stakeholders.

5. Recorded information showing how the external recipients were selected.

6. Records showing the stated purpose for which the requested responses were obtained.

7. Records showing whether the responses were used in ministerial briefings, parliamentary briefings, Stage 2 preparations, amendment discussions, policy advice or other work relating to the Bill.

8. Copies of any internal assessment, summary or circulation of the responses received.

9. Records showing whether any independent practitioner or organisation representing independent aesthetic practitioners was invited to comment upon the same arguments. Where such an invitation was issued, please provide the invitation and response.

10. Records containing or referring to the phrases “a great result yesterday”, “complications would only present hours later”, “healthcare professional on site” or materially similar wording in connection with the Stage 1 debate and the request for external responses. If this request overlaps in part with any previous correspondence, please treat it as a fresh request for any recorded information not already disclosed.

Response

Questions 1 and 3

All of the information you have requested is available from the FOI release FoI / 202600510938, which your request suggests you have access to. 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 access to this information, then please contact me again and I will send you a copy.

Question 2

Most of the information you have requested has been released by the Scottish Government under FoI / 202600510938. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.

In addition, I enclose a copy of additional identified information from you request in the format you have asked for. 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 an exemption under the following sections apply.

Section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies as the material we are sending to you contains personal information. Section 30(b)(i) and Section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA, respectively, applies here as contents with the material we are releasing contains free and frank exchanges of views and of policy advice.

Questions 4 - 6

I enclose a copy of all of the information we have on record against your request, and in the format you asked for.

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 an exemption under section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to that information. This exemption applies as the material we are sending to you contains personal information.

Question 7

Most of the information you have requested is available from FoI / 202600510938. Under Section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.

I also enclose some information in line with your request under question 7. 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 an exemption under varies sections apply.

Section 29(1)(c) of FOISA which exempts legal advice being disclosed.

Section 30(b)(i) and Section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA, respectively, applies here as contents with the material we are releasing contains free and frank exchanges of views and of policy advice.

Section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to this information. This exemption applies as the material we are sending to you contains personal information.

Question 8

Under Section 17 of FOISA, the Scottish Government does not hold on record any documentation showing that the Scottish Government wrote to non-healthcare practitioners for comment on this.

Question 9

In line with Section 25(1) of FOISA, most of this information can be found in documentation released in FoI / 202600510938, published on the Scottish Government website.

I have also enclosed document relevant that you have requested in relation to question 9, and in the format you asked for.

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 an exemption under section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to that information. This exemption applies as the material we are sending to you contains personal information.

Question 10

Most of the information you have requested has been released by the Scottish Government under FoI / 202600510938. Results pertaining to this question can also in Document 4.2 in this FoI release to you.

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.

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 202600528564 - Information Released - Annex

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