Freedom of Information Request - OWNP TAG minutes etc
Date: 07 January 2025
Our ref: SIR177848/A4868730
Information Request – OWNP TAG minutes etc
Your Request
‘I would like to make a request by way of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 concerning the Orkney Native Wildlife Project (ONWP).
Please provide all minutes/notes from the Technical Advisory Group since the project's beginning, including the reports or documentation referred to in those minutes/notes. Although I'm sure this will be encompassed by this request, can I also specifically ask for the TAG response to the original 2018 operational plan (by Bell et al).
In the latest version of the operational plan (attached), I see a reference in the introduction (p.6) to a review to be carried out in August 2019 by the New Zealand-based Island Eradications Advisory Group. Please can I request a copy of any report, correspondence, or documentation concerning the findings of this review.
Also, if any other such expert reviews have been carried out by this group, or any other group, since the August 2019 review, please can I request a copy of any reports, correspondence, or documentation concerning their findings.
Lastly, please can I also request a complete list of staffing costs for the project at present, broken down by job description.’
Amended request
‘…for just the TAG minutes (rather than notes), and from 2018.’
Our Response
Following a search of the information we hold our response is attached separately.
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 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).
