202200316464 · FOI · already published
Education Strategic Reform Programme Board: FOI release
Information requested
All correspondence mentioning the Education Reform Strategic Programme Board, including its currently agreed members, candidates for membership, and discussions on its remit. Include emails from external parties commenting on the board.
Response
I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested as a PDF file. This includes emails and documents, such as letters issued by Scottish Government to external Board members.
Exemption(s) under section(s) s.25, s.29(1)a, s.30(1)bii and s.38(1)b of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because some of the information within the correspondence is already available to the requestor, some information relates to correspondence relating to formulation of government policy, the release of such information would cause harm to free and frank discussion on policy development, and the release of information includes personal information which is exempt from release.
These exemptions are 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 some public interest in release because of the ongoing reform and replacement of the SQA and Education Scotland. However, this is outweighed by the public interest given that disclosure of some of this information could impinge on any ongoing policy development and future decisions relating to the Education Reform programme.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Detected exemption language
Exemption(s) under section(s) s.25, s.29(1)a, s.30(1)bii and s.38(1)b of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. These exemptions are 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.