Freedom of Information Request - Legal Services
Date: 05 June 2025
Our ref: SIR180386/A5187015
Information Request – Legal Services
Your Request
'1. The number of FTE employees who work in NatureScot’s internal legal team, including all lawyers, solicitors, etc. in a) Financial Year 2022/23, b) Financial Year 2023/24, and c) Financial Year 2024/25.
2. The total amount spent by NatureScot on internal legal services, including the salaries of employees in the legal team, expenses, etc. in a) Financial Year 2022/23, b) Financial Year 2023/24, and c) Financial Year 2024/25.
3. The total amount spent by NatureScot on external legal services in a) Financial Year 2022/23, b) Financial Year 2023/24, and c) Financial Year 2024/25.
To clarify, I am seeking each of the three points of information for each of the three financial years so would be expecting nine distinct figures in the response, as per the following template.'
Our Response
| Legal resources | Financial year - 2022/23 | Financial year - 2023/24 | Financial year - 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. of FTE internal legal team employees | N/A – NatureScot do not have an in-house legal team | N/A – NatureScot do not have an in-house legal team | N/A – NatureScot do not have an in-house legal team |
| Amount spent on internal legal services | £-n/a | £-n/a | £-n/a |
| Amount spent on external legal services | £122,243.00 | £98,544.00 | £100,934.00 |
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
