Freedom of Information Request - Rural tourism support
Date: 04 March 2025
Our ref: SIR178811/A5018296
Information Request – Rural tourism support
Your Request
Initial request:
May I know what types of supports you have for facilitate better management/protection of Ben Nevis, Glen Coe, Goatfell (These are spectacular mountain ranges in Scotland)?
To specify:
1) financial/policy/training supports for ranger services, mountain path repair/maintenance;
2) time period: from January, 2004 to December, 2024;
3) locations: Ben Nevis, Glen Coe, Goatfell;
4) it would be great if you can provide any related project documents/meeting minutes.
Amended request:
To streamline this request, I’d like to focus on your financial support for the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and the John Muir Trust (JMT), as they are the key land managers in Glencoe, Goatfell, and Ben Nevis. Could you provide the following documents:
1. Ranger Service Policies:
Rangers in Scotland (1997)
Policy Statement and Operational Guidance (1997)
Any review reports on these policies (perhaps between 1999–2000)
The updated Rangers in Scotland policy (2008)
2. Concordat Agreements & Funding:
The most recent concordat agreements (or equivalent partnerships) between NatureScot (formerly SNH) and NTS/JMT
Grants provided to NTS/JMT in 2008, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023
Projects funded under these agreements in 2008, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023
3. Local Liaison Reports:
Reports on NatureScot’s local engagement with the NTS Glencoe Team and JMT Ben Nevis Team for 2008, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023 (as per the 2008 Concordat, this includes biannual meetings on ranger work plans, countryside management services, and Key Performance Indicators).
Our Response
Following a search of the information we hold our response is below.
1. Ranger Service Policies
The information we hold is attached separately. We do not have any review reports to share.
2. Concordat Agreements & Funding
Based on your specified dates (2008, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023), locations (NTS – Glencoe and Goatfell, JMT – Ben Nevis) and topics (rangers, mountain path repair/maintenance), the information we hold is attached separately.
Please note, funding to these organisations is now based on the delivery of specific projects rather than a programme of work.
3. Local Liaison Reports
Following a search of the information we hold we could not find any information identified as local liaison reports.
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).
If you wish to discuss your request further, you may find it helpful to contact our Access team at [email protected].
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).
