7 April 2009 Our ref: RQST00002306810

J Cassidy

[FOI #8154 email]

Request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

I refer your correspondence dated 16 February 2009 requesting the following information :

(A) Can you please provide me with copies of any minutes, handouts or

presentations provided at any meetings or workshops your authority

has been represented on with the UKBA on the matter of "key reforms

to services for child asylum seekers" (1) over the last six months.

(B) Please also provide me with copies of any minutes, handouts or

presentations you hold that relate to a set of regional

meetings/forums/workshops your authority was requested to attend or

be represented at (2), although these meetings were planned for

October 2008 I understand they actually took place in November

2008. (3)

(C) Please provide any information you hold that suggest why the "key

reforms to services for child asylum seekers" will not take place

until at least 2010.

"Solihull chief executive Mark Rogers told Community Care this week

he did not expect the scheme to be fully implemented until April

2010" (4)

(D) Please also provide full details of how or whether your local

authority is planning to or already is "piloting" some of the "key

reforms to services for child asylum seekers". Please specifically

confirm or deny whether your local authority is involved in such

"piloting".

"..he did not expect the scheme to be fully implemented until April

2010, following a period of piloting." (5)

(E) Please confirm of deny whether your local authority has been

formally or informally requested to provide 'Expressions of

Interest' or make "Bids" made in connection with acting in any way

as a "specialist authority" for these "key reforms to services for

child asylum seekers" . Please provide copies of any of these

'Expressions of Interest' or "Bids", whether or not they have been

finalised or sent to the UKBA, as requested by them end of January

2009 deadline. (6)

I can confirm that the Council is treating your request as a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. I apologise for the delay in responding to your request.

Request (A)

Glasgow City Council has not attended any workshops with the UKBA in relation to key reforms for services to child asylum seekers in the last 6 months.

Any meetings attended by Glasgow City Council representatives and the UKBA would be to discuss the formulation of Government policy in this area. We are not able to provide you with information regarding meetings because the information which you have requested is, in our opinion, exempt from a request under section 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Firstly, because of the exemption contained in section 30 of the Act. In other words, in our opinion disclosure of the information would, or would be likely to substantially prejudice or inhibit, the free and frank exchange of views for the purpose of deliberation. Secondly, because of the exemption contained in section 35(1)(e) of the Act. In other words, the information has been held for the purposes of law enforcement.

In our view, the decision making process, of which the requested information forms part of, involves discussions where options are canvassed with a view to agreeing a way forward. Such candid discussion would be inhibited if information of this type were to be routinely released, and would substantially prejudice the quality of the decision making process and, in consequence, the free and frank exchange of views for the purpose of deliberation.

While we believe the exemptions contained in section 30 and 35 apply in this case, we would still be obliged to release the information in response to your request unless the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in openness and transparency. We recognise that any request under section 1 of the Act is potentially in the public interest. However we also believe there is significant public interest in authorities such as the Council being able to assess critically all factors involved in the development of policy of this type, and to reach the best possible decisions. On occasions this can only be done on the basis of candid advice and a free exchange of views, of a sort that cannot take place if all information is disclosed. The public interest in openness and transparency is, we feel, satisfied by the release of all relevant information concerning the decisions ultimately reached, without the need to disclose all the debate which surrounded those decisions. In the circumstances we feel that the specific public interest in safeguarding this decision making process outweighs the general public interest in openness and transparency.

There may be other papers that relate to the topics you raise that may be available through COSLA and/or the LGA because as corporate bodies they have been in discussions with the Home Office regarding these issues. You may also wish to contact the Home Office to determine whether they can issue you with further information.

Request (B)

Representatives from Glasgow City Council did not attend the regional meetings you refer to. Therefore in accordance with Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 I can confirm that this authority does not hold the information that you requested.

Request (C)

In accordance with Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 I can confirm that this authority does not hold the information that you requested.

Request (D)

Glasgow City Council is not piloting any particular aspect of the reform programme.

Request (E)

Glasgow City Council has had preliminarily discussions with the Home Office regarding the possibility of becoming a specialist authority in Scotland, however at this time Glasgow City Council has made no written bid or expression of interest in this respect.

I hope the above information is helpful.

If you are dissatisfied with the way Glasgow City Council has dealt with your request you are entitled to require the Council to review its decision. Please note that for a review to take place you must:

The Solicitor to the Council

Glasgow City Council

City Chambers

George Square

Glasgow G2 1DU Email: [email address]

You will receive notice of the results of the review within 20 working days of receipt of your request. The notice will state the decision reached by the reviewing officer as well as details of how to appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner if you are still dissatisfied with the Council's response. You must request an internal review by the Council before a complaint can be directed to the Scottish Information Commissioner.

Yours sincerely,

Robert Gibson

Senior Officer

Rights & Enquiries Section

Social Work Services