FOI/202600523661 · FOI · partially withheld
Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Data captured within joint investigative interviews: FOI release
Information requested
Any outputs, interim reports, data mapping documents or discussion minutes produced by Workstream one of the Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Data Short Life Working Group since its establishment in January 2026, including any draft assessment of what data on group-based CSAE is currently held across Scottish public bodies.
Response
Please find some of the information you have requested in the attached annex.
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 section 29(1)(a) formulation or development of government policy) and section 38(b)(personal information) of FOISA applies to that information.
An exemption under s.29(1)(a) (formulation of Government policy) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption relates to the formulation of the Scottish Government’s policy. This exemption is 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 a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. 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 the discussions on child protection policy 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.
An exemption(s) under s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption relates to personal information and specifically the personal data of third parties. This applies in this case as the information you have requested includes detailed data of third parties. 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.
The minutes from every meeting of the Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Data Short Life Working Group, which has been held so far can be viewed on the Scottish Government’s website: National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group - gov.scot
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.
Detected exemption language
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 section 29(1)(a) formulation or development of government policy) and section 38(b)(personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. An exemption under s.29(1)(a) (formulation of Government policy) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption relates to the formulation of the Scottish Government’s policy. This exemption is 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.