Freedom of Information Request - NatureScot Board Meeting 12 February 2025
Date: 18 March 2025
Our ref: SIR179138/A5041552
Information Request – NatureScot Board Meeting 12 February 2025
Your Request
• The proposed Galloway National Park – Reporter Update paper considered at the NatureScot Board meeting of Wednesday 12 February 2025.
• The Natural Environment Bill paper considered at the NatureScot Board meeting of Wednesday 12 February 2025.
• The Schedule 1 Bird Disturbance Licence – Landowner Notification of Activity paper considered at the NatureScot Board meeting of Wednesday 12 February 2025.
Our Response
We have searched the information that we hold and discussed your request with other teams within NatureScot. Copies of the following have been provided and are attached as a separate document to this response.
• The proposed Galloway National Park – Reporter Update paper considered at the NatureScot Board meeting of Wednesday 12 February 2025.
• The Schedule 1 Bird Disturbance Licence – Landowner Notification of Activity paper considered at the NatureScot Board meeting of Wednesday 12 February 2025.
We have redacted out a very small amount of personal data. Releasing personal data into the public domain in response to an information request would breach the Data Protection Act 2018, so under the EIRs we have applied the following exemption 11(2)(Personal Data)
We have withheld the following in its entirety:
• The Natural Environment Bill paper considered at the NatureScot Board meeting of Wednesday 12 February 2025.
As there is information that is not included within the final submitted bill, and there are also currently ongoing discussions with SG officials about advice to Ministers, and these could influence the Bill’s passage through parliament. NatureScot and Scottish Government staff need to have an open and safe space to develop approaches and take decisions. The disclosure of this document could damage future working relationships and inhibit internal discussions on sensitive issues.
It is not in the public interest to jeopardise working relationships, or influence, either good or bad on the passage of a bill through the parliamentary process. Therefore this paper will be withheld in under EIR Exception – 10(4)(e)(Internal Communications)
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).
