Freedom of Information Request - Proposed Galloway National Park – Board Paper and Correspondence with Scottish Government
Date: 20 March 2025
Our ref: SIR179154/A5055783
Information Request – Proposed Galloway National Park – Board Paper and Correspondence with Scottish Government
Your Request
- Full details of minutes, notes and conversations held at NatureScot board meeting on 12 February 2025 regarding the proposed Galloway National Park (once these minutes have been drafted)
- All communications NatureScot have had with Scottish Government officials regarding the proposed Galloway National Park since 1 January 2025, specifically including any discussions regarding potential size, areas to be included, annual budget and establishment costs and potential powers any Park could have
Our Response
We have discussed your request with the NatureScot staff dealing with the proposed national park and have responded to each part of your request in turn.
“Full details of minutes, notes and conversations held at NatureScot board meeting on 12 February 2025 regarding the proposed Galloway National Park (once these minutes have been drafted)”
At the time we received your information request the minutes etc. had not been drafted or confirmed, and we do not hold any notes or conversations as recorded information. We can provide you with a copy of the board paper that was presented to the board on the proposed Galloway National Park, and this is attached as a separate document to this response.
We have marked out (redacted) one name in the document 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).
“All communications NatureScot have had with Scottish Government officials regarding the proposed Galloway National Park since 1 January 2025, specifically including any discussions regarding potential size, areas to be included, annual budget and establishment costs and potential powers any Park could have”
NatureScot and Scottish Government staff have been in communications about various aspects of the potential national park. As part of that process NatureScot and Scottish Government must take into account the parliamentary processes and take the time to discuss issues in an open and safe space, to develop approaches, and take decisions. The disclosure of this information could damage future working relationships and inhibit internal discussions on sensitive issues.
It is not in the public interest to jeopardise working relationships between public officials, or influence, for either good or bad the outcomes of a decision-making process by Scottish Government. Therefore this information will be withheld 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).
