Freedom of Information Request: Schedule 2 review - Ornithologists
Date: 30 July 2024
Our ref: SIR176254/A4665721
Information Request – Schedule 2 review - ornithologists
Thank you for your information request, which we received on 9th July 2024. We have considered your request under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’).
Your Request
How many ornithologists are employed by NatureScot?
Of those, how many were assigned to the schedule 2 review?
How many hours were logged on the schedule 2 review by the assigned ornithologist(s)
What recommendations did said ornithologist(s) produce for each species on Schedule 2?
Our Response
Our response is below, taking each part of your request in turn.
How many ornithologists are employed by NatureScot
NatureScot has five permanent terrestrial ornithologists and a further three working within our Marine Team.
Of those, how many were assigned to the schedule 2 review
There was one senior terrestrial ornithologist assigned to work with Wildlife Management colleagues on the schedule 2 review.
How many hours were logged on the schedule 2 review by the assigned ornithologist(s)
NatureScot does not currently log hours worked against specific areas of work so we do not have this information recorded. This means that EIRs Regulation 10(4)(a) (Information not held) applies to your request for the information.
What recommendations did said ornithologist(s) produce for each species on Schedule 2
The advice from our ornithologist forms a key part of our consultation report on the review of Schedule 2 criteria, which is for Scottish Government to consider initially as part of policy development. As such this is withheld under EIRS Regulation 10(4)(e) - Internal Communications. We expect that the report of the review will be made publicly available when it has been written and finalised.
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
Scottish Information Commissioner's website
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
Information Officer
[email protected]
