Freedom of Information Request - Enquiry about the Isle of Rum
Date: 17 March 2025
Our ref: SIR179161/A5046463
Information Request – Enquiry about the Isle of Rum
Your Request
I would like to submit a FOI request about the Isle of Rum. It may help if you consult a previous FOI response by NatureScot, reference SRI171533/A4101789.
I would like to ask some of the same questions as for SRI171533/A4101789, so the data is consistent, but just the data for the 23/24 financial year.
For the financial year 2023/24, please could NatureScot provide the expenditure for:
1. The castle (maintenance, materials, utilities, repairs and contractors) and land within its boundaries.
2. NatureScot staff that were resident on the island.
3. The cost of maintenance, properties, tracks and assets along with any other capital costs in Kinloch village.
4. The cost of the upkeep, maintenance and capital costs of the National Nature Reserve.
5. The costs of any funding relating to research undertaken by academic organisations, either on or off island.
6. The costs of grants and any other payments to the Isle of Rum Community Trust.’
Our Response
Following a search of the information we hold our response is below.
| - | Net expenditure | Gross Expenditure |
|---|---|---|
| The castle (maintenance, materials, utilities, repairs and contractors) and land within its boundaries | £34635.20, adjusted for cost code changes/refunds and offset by any associated revenue | £34635.20, adjusted for cost code changes/refunds (No revenue generated 23/24) |
| NatureScot staff that were resident on the island | - | £111736.80 |
| The cost of maintenance, properties, tracks and assets along with any other capital costs in Kinloch village – not including Rum power supply expenditure | £13831.63, adjusted for cost code changes/refunds and offset by any associated revenue | £13831.63, adjusted for cost code changes/refunds (No revenue generated 23/24) |
| The cost of maintenance, properties, tracks and assets along with any other capital costs in Kinloch village – Rum power supply expenditure only | £25,173.90, adjusted for cost code changes/refunds and offset by any associated revenue | £52,082.06, adjusted for cost code changes/refunds |
| The cost of the upkeep, maintenance and capital costs of the National Nature Reserve | £75076.70, adjusted for cost code changes/refunds and offset by any associated revenue (income includes venison sales) | £108600.40, adjusted for cost code changes/refunds |
| The costs of any funding relating to research undertaken by academic organisations, either on or off island | During 2023/2024, NatureScot has not directly funded any research undertaken by academic organisations, either on or off island | During 2023/2024, NatureScot has not directly funded any research undertaken by academic organisations, either on or off island |
| The costs of grants and any other payments to the Isle of Rum Community Trust | £1504.93, adjusted for cost code changes/refunds and offset by any associated revenue (relating to Infrastructure Agreement) | £1504.93, adjusted for cost code changes/refunds |
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
