· FOI · partially withheld
British Transport Police Integration Joint Programme Board: FOI release
Information requested
You asked for all papers presented to / discussed at the British Transport Police Integration Joint Programme Board on 20th February 2018.
Response
Please find attached the agenda from this meeting. Paper JPB S-01 cannot be provided as this is exempt from release under Section 30(b)(ii) of the FOISA Act. This exemption applies when disclosure "would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation". This exemption recognises the need for officials to have a private space within which to discuss issues and options with external stakeholders before the Scottish Government reaches a settled public view. Disclosing the content of the discussions taking place with the Joint Programme Board would substantially inhibit such discussions in the future, because these stakeholders would be reluctant to provide their views fully and frankly if they believed that those views would be likely to be made public, particularly while these discussions are still ongoing and decisions have not been taken.
Detected exemption language
Paper JPB S-01 cannot be provided as this is exempt from release under Section 30(b)(ii) of the FOISA Act. This exemption applies when disclosure "would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation". This exemption recognises the need for officials to have a private space within which to discuss issues and options with external stakeholders before the Scottish Government reaches a settled public view.