FOI/202600500062 · FOI · not held
Diversity and inclusion employer strategy information: FOI release
Information requested
1. The total number of initiatives, programs, or policies implemented or funded by the Scottish Government that fall under the categories of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), or that could be described as promoting anti-white sentiments or practices. This includes any efforts aimed at addressing racial inequalities that prioritize non-white ethnic groups.
2. For each such initiative, program, or policy identified in point 1:
A brief description, including objectives and target beneficiaries. The total budget allocated and actual spending to date. Any eligibility criteria that use race or ethnicity as a factor, particularly those that may exclude or disadvantage individuals identifying as white.
3. The total aggregated spending across all such initiatives, programs, or policies that involve any form of racial preference or discrimination, including those that could be interpreted as discriminating against white people (e.g., quotas, targeted funding, or affirmative action measures favoring non-white groups).
Response
As an employer the Scottish Government defines diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as those which support our efforts to achieve our Employer Equality Outcomes and meet our Public Sector Equality Duty. We adopt an evidence-based approach to identifying and taking actions to improve outcomes and experience at work where workforce data identifies a differential experience for an equality group. While these actions and initiatives often include minority ethnic groups, they are not exclusive to them. Therefore, this is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.
Our current Diversity and inclusion employer strategy for Scottish Government 2024 is available online and if you don't have internet access can send to you a printed copy. This strategy superseded three previous recruitment and retention action plans focused on Race, Disability and Socio-Economic Background.
The same principles apply to the Scottish Government’s wider policy and delivery work. We do not design, implement, or fund initiatives on a “white” or “non-white” basis, nor do we operate racial quotas or measures that discriminate against any racial group. Where targeted measures are taken, they are proportionate, evidence based, and, where relevant, within the Equality Act 2010’s positive action provisions. We do not categorise, record, or report initiatives using the descriptors in your request (e.g. “antiwhite”, “racial preference”, or “affirmative action favouring non white groups”). Therefore, under section 17(1) of FOISA, the information is not held. Information about our equality analysis and decision making is available in published Equality Impact Assessments and programme documentation can be found online Equality evidence - gov.scot.
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 listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
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.
Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Correspondence Unit Email: contactus@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Detected exemption language
Therefore, this is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. Therefore, under section 17(1) of FOISA, the information is not held. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.
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