Freedom of Information Request - Correspondence between NatureScot and T Dargie
Date: 29 October 2024
Our ref: SIR177063/A4760727
Information Request – Correspondence between NatureScot and T Dargie
Your Request
Please provide all correspondence between Tom Dargie and NatureScot (including but not limited to Stewart Angus, Dave Mackay and Alex Macdonald) from 20 March 2023 to 4 September 2024.
Our Response
We have undertaken detailed searches of the information that we hold and discussed your request with our Operations and Marine Teams. We have found a considerable number of documents that meet the terms of your request, copies of these documents are attached separately to this response.
Whilst we always try to provide all of the information that has been requested, we have, in this instance, had to withhold or redact out information for the following reasons:
We have redacted out and withheld some amount of information relating to prices/costs submitted by contractors regarding various projects either where NatureScot has directly involved or have been consulted on by other public bodies. To release this information could prejudice the contractor and could provide competitors having an unfair advantage in future contracts for
similar work. We have applied the exemption 10(5)( e)(Confidentiality of commercial or industrial information), under the EIRS, to this information.
We have also withheld information relating to unpublished data or reports that were provided to NatureScot in confidence and have applied Regulation 10(5)(c) of the EIRs which allows for the withholding of environmental information if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, cause substantial prejudice to intellectual property rights to the whoever provided the information at the time of disclosure.
We have also redacted out personal data that could either directly or indirectly identify an individual from the information being provided to you. Release of this information in response to your request would breach the Data Protection Act 2018. We have applied the exemption 11(1) 11(2) (Personal Data) under the EIRS.
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
Document downloads
Due to accessibility issues the attached information, referenced above, is available on request by contacting the FOI team at [email protected]. Please reference the case number (starting with SIR).
