Freedom of Information Request - Costs incurred for Section 8 – Loch Choire
Date: 24 April 2025
Our ref: SIR179813/A5111928
Information Request – Costs incurred for Section 8 – Loch Choire
Your Request
'The costs incurred to date for the section 8 at Loch Choire.'
Our Response
We have discussed your request with our Wildlife Management Team, and at the time of your request we have spent the following on the Section 8 at Loch Choire
− Legal Costs – Harper Macleod - £13,973.40
− NatureScot Staff Time – 60 hours E Grade Deer Delivery Operations Manager - £3,600.00
− Helicopter Deer Census – Loch Choire* March 2025 - £6,000.00
*As part of the wider East Sutherland Deer Management Group deer count
There may be other legal and staff costs incurred by Scottish Government – Wildlife Management policy team but NatureScot does not hold that information.
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
