Freedom of Information Request - NatureScot paper on licenced control of gulls in Scotland
Date: 06 September 2024
Our ref: SIR176935/A4728489
Information Request – NatureScot paper on licenced control of gulls in Scotland
Thank you for your information request. We have considered your request under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’).
Your Request
A copy of the NatureScot Board paper on licenced control of gulls in Scotland
Our Response
Based on a search of the information we hold our response is attached separately.
Please note, preliminary data from JNCC on gull population numbers was used in these papers, as the Seabirds Count data had not been published when the paper was authored. This data has now been superseded so the exact figures, values and percentages in these papers should not be used. It is understood that the RSPB have the most up to date data from our licensing team.
We would also like to draw attention to the fact that NatureScot is currently undergoing an assessment of gull populations in relation to licensing numbers, and the results of this will be made available to the public on completion of the project.
We have withheld some risk information relating to assumptions around stakeholders. We have also withheld some opinions expressed about the licenses issued to date. We have concluded that, in this specific instance, the public interest in making the information available is outweighed by the public interest in withholding it. There is a need, on occasion, to have a private discussion space for our staff to exchange views and information on developing areas of work. We are therefore withholding the information under EIRs Regulation 10(4)(e) (Internal communications).
We have marked out (redacted) some personal data in the documents provided. Releasing the personal data into the public domain in response to an access to information request would breach the Data Protection Act 2018. We are therefore withholding the information under EIRs Regulation 11(2) (Personal data).
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 wihtin 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).