Scottish Government Energy related working groups: EIR release

Information requested

For the following working groups:

A. Non-domestic energy consumers working group
B. Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group
C. Offshore Renewables Short Life Working Group
D. Renewables Export Plan Delivery Group

1. What was the date of formation of these groups?
2. Who is a member of these group?
3. What is the cost to the Scottish Government of operating these group from the date of formation to 4/10/23?
4. Are any members of these group renumerated, if so what for?

Response

Section A: Non-domestic Energy Consumers Working Group

Question 1
The group’s first meeting was held on 4 July 2023.

Question 2
The group consists of the Scottish Government Minister for Energy and the Environment, trade bodies and other third parties. I have provided further details below for your convenience:

• Scottish Government
• The Federation of Small Businesses
• Chambers of Commerce
• Scottish Tourism Alliance
• Scottish Retail Consortium
• Community Leisure UK
• Findlater’s Fine Foods
• Graham’s Family Dairy
• Scottish Enterprise
• Consumer Scotland
• Advice Direct Scotland
• Ofgem
• Home Energy Scotland
• Energy UK
• The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA)
• Question

Question 3
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested as the only cost associated with the Non-domestic Energy Consumers Working Group has been staff time. It may help if I explain that Civil Servants operate flexibly across a range of policies and programmes according to the specific requirements of their work at any given time. They do not, as a matter of course, record the proportion of their time spent working on particular matters. It is therefore not possible to provide an expenditure figure regarding how much the Scottish Government has spent on work by Civil Servants involved with the Non-domestic Energy Consumers Working Group.

Therefore, this is a formal notice under Regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs confirming that the Scottish Government does not hold this information.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. It is important to note that although we do not hold the information and have applied Regulation 10(4)(a) – information not held, it is a requirement that we have to apply the public interest test.

Under regulation 5(1) of the EIRs, a Scottish public authority that holds environmental information must make it available when requested to do so. This duty is not absolute. In some cases, information is excepted from disclosure, under regulations 10 and 11 of the EIRs. However, all of the exceptions in regulation 10 (and parts of regulation 11) are subject to a public interest test. To clarify, even though we do not hold the information, because we are using EIRs Exception 10(4)(a) in response to your request, we are required to apply a public interest test.

Guidance can be found in the Key Concepts section under ‘Information Not Held’ and ‘The Public Interest Test’ in the attached Scottish Information Commissioner Briefings and Guidance document.

Further guidance on the public interest test can also be found on page 8 of the Scottish Information Commissioner guidance.

Question 4
No remuneration is provided to the members of the the Non-domestic Energy Consumers Working Group as part of their role in the group.

It may help if I explain that the Scottish Government does not provide any remuneration to external members of the Non-domestic Energy Consumers Working Group. Additionally, the Scottish Government does not remunerate staff members in any way for participation in the group over and above standard staff salaries.

Therefore, this is a formal notice under Regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs confirming that the Scottish Government does not hold this information.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. It is important to note that although we do not hold the information and have applied Regulation 10(4)(a) – information not held, it is a requirement that we have to apply the public interest test.

Under regulation 5(1) of the EIRs, a Scottish public authority that holds environmental information must make it available when requested to do so. This duty is not absolute. In some cases, information is excepted from disclosure, under regulations 10 and 11 of the EIRs. However, all of the exceptions in regulation 10 (and parts of regulation 11) are subject to a public interest test. To clarify, even though we do not hold the information, because we are using EIRs Exception 10(4)(a) in response to your request, we are required to apply a public interest test.

Guidance can be found in the Key Concepts section under ‘Information Not Held’ and ‘The Public Interest Test’ in the attached Scottish Information Commissioner Briefings and Guidance document.

Further guidance on the public interest test can also be found on page 8 of the Scottish Information Commissioner guidance.

Section B: Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group

Question 1
The group’s first meeting was held on 22 February 2023.

Question 2
Under regulation 6(1)(b) of the EIRs, we do not have to give you information which is already publicly available and easily accessible to you in another form or format. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

The Scottish Government has previously published a breakdown of the membership of the group online in addition to minutes of meetings held which can be found here.

Question 3
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested as the only cost associated with the Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group has been staff time.

It may help if I explain that Civil Servants operate flexibly across a range of policies and programmes according to the specific requirements of their work at any given time. They do not, as a matter of course, record the proportion of their time spent working on particular matters. It is therefore not possible to provide an expenditure figure regarding how much the Scottish Government has spent on work by Civil Servants involved with the Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group.

Therefore, this is a formal notice under Regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs confirming that the Scottish Government does not hold this information.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. It is important to note that although we do not hold the information and have applied Regulation 10(4)(a) – information not held, it is a requirement that we have to apply the public interest test.

Under regulation 5(1) of the EIRs, a Scottish public authority that holds environmental information must make it available when requested to do so. This duty is not absolute. In some cases, information is excepted from disclosure, under regulations 10 and 11 of the EIRs. However, all of the exceptions in regulation 10 (and parts of regulation 11) are subject to a public interest test. To clarify, even though we do not hold the information, because we are using EIRs Exception 10(4)(a) in response to your request, we are required to apply a public interest test.

Guidance can be found in the Key Concepts section under ‘Information Not Held’ and ‘The Public Interest Test’ in the attached Scottish Information Commissioner Briefings and Guidance document.

Further guidance on the public interest test can also be found on page 8 of the Scottish Information Commissioner guidance.

Question 4
No remuneration is provided to the members of the the Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group as part of their role in the group.

It may help if I explain that the Scottish Government does not provide any remuneration to external members of the Onshore Wind Strategic Leadership Group. Additionally, the Scottish Government does not remunerate staff members in any way for participation in the group over and above standard staff salaries.

Therefore, this is a formal notice under Regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs confirming that the Scottish Government does not hold this information.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. It is important to note that although we do not hold the information and have applied Regulation 10(4)(a) – information not held, it is a requirement that we have to apply the public interest test.

Under regulation 5(1) of the EIRs, a Scottish public authority that holds environmental information must make it available when requested to do so. This duty is not absolute. In some cases, information is excepted from disclosure, under regulations 10 and 11 of the EIRs. However, all of the exceptions in regulation 10 (and parts of regulation 11) are subject to a public interest test. To clarify, even though we do not hold the information, because we are using EIRs Exception 10(4)(a) in response to your request, we are required to apply a public interest test.

Guidance can be found in the Key Concepts section under ‘Information Not Held’ and ‘The Public Interest Test’ in the attached Scottish Information Commissioner Briefings and Guidance document.

Further guidance on the public interest test can also be found on page 8 of the Scottish Information Commissioner guidance.

Section C: Offshore Renewables Short Life Working Group
Question 1

The Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, Neil Gray, invited organisations to the join the short life working group on 14 June 2023 with the first meeting of the group being held on 27 June 2023.

Question 2

• The group consists of staff from the Scottish Government and other third parties. I have provided
• further details below for your convenience:
• Scottish Government
• Scottish Enterprise
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise
• South of Scotland Enterprise
• Scottish Development International
• Crown Estate Scotland
• Scottish Futures Trust
• The Scottish National Investment Bank

Question 3

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested as the only cost associated with the Offshore Renewables Short Life Working Group has been staff time.

It may help if I explain that Civil Servants operate flexibly across a range of policies and programmes according to the specific requirements of their work at any given time. They do not, as a matter of course, record the proportion of their time spent working on particular matters. It is therefore not possible to provide an expenditure figure regarding how much the Scottish Government has spent on work by Civil Servants involved with the Offshore Renewables Short Life Working Group. Therefore, this is a formal notice under Regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs confirming that the Scottish
Government does not hold this information.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. It is important to note that although we do not hold the information and have applied Regulation 10(4)(a) – information not held, it is a requirement that we have to apply the public interest test.

Under regulation 5(1) of the EIRs, a Scottish public authority that holds environmental information must make it available when requested to do so. This duty is not absolute. In some cases, information is excepted from disclosure, under regulations 10 and 11 of the EIRs. However, all of the exceptions in regulation 10 (and parts of regulation 11) are subject to a public interest test. To clarify, even though we do not hold the information, because we are using EIRs Exception 10(4)(a) in response to your request, we are required to apply a public interest test.

Guidance can be found in the Key Concepts section under ‘Information Not Held’ and ‘The Public Interest Test’ in the attached Scottish Information Commissioner Briefings and Guidance document.

Further guidance on the public interest test can also be found on page 8 of the Scottish Information Commissioner guidance.

Question 4
No remuneration is provided to the members of the the Offshore Renewables Short Life Working Group as part of their role in the group.

It may help if I explain that the Scottish Government does not provide any remuneration to external members of the Offshore Renewables Short Life Working Group. Additionally, the Scottish Government does not remunerate staff members in any way for participation in the group over and above standard staff salaries.

Therefore, this is a formal notice under Regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs confirming that the Scottish Government does not hold this information.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. It is important to note that although we do not hold the information and have applied Regulation 10(4)(a) – information not held, it is a requirement that we have to apply the public interest test.

Under regulation 5(1) of the EIRs, a Scottish public authority that holds environmental information must make it available when requested to do so. This duty is not absolute. In some cases, information isexcepted from disclosure, under regulations 10 and 11 of the EIRs. However, all of the exceptions in regulation 10 (and parts of regulation 11) are subject to a public interest test. To clarify, even though we do not hold the information, because we are using EIRs Exception 10(4)(a) in response to your request, we are required to apply a public interest test.

Guidance can be found in the Key Concepts section under ‘Information Not Held’ and ‘The Public Interest Test’ in the attached Scottish Information Commissioner Briefings and Guidance document.

Further guidance on the public interest test can also be found on page 8 of the Scottish Information Commissioner guidance.

Section D: Renewables Export Plan Delivery Group

Question 1
The group operates as an informal sub group of the Trade and Investment Strategy Ministerial Trade Board which was set up to support the development and delivery of the Scottish Government’s Framework to grow Scotland's Renewables Exports which was published on 20 March 2023.

Question 2
The group consists of the following members from the Ministerial Trade Board noted in Question 1
above:

• David Currie - Proserv
• Simon Forrest - Nova Innovation
• Richard Knox - Verlume

Question 3
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested as the only cost associated with the Renewables Export Plan Delivery Group has been staff time.

It may help if I explain that Civil Servants operate flexibly across a range of policies and programmes according to the specific requirements of their work at any given time. They do not, as a matter of course, record the proportion of their time spent working on particular matters. It is therefore not possible to provide an expenditure figure regarding how much the Scottish Government has spent on work by Civil Servants involved with the Renewables Export Plan Delivery Group.

Therefore, this is a formal notice under Regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs confirming that the Scottish Government does not hold this information.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. It is important to note that although we do not hold the information and have applied Regulation 10(4)(a) – information not held, it is a requirement that we have to apply the public interest test.

Under regulation 5(1) of the EIRs, a Scottish public authority that holds environmental information must make it available when requested to do so. This duty is not absolute. In some cases, information is excepted from disclosure, under regulations 10 and 11 of the EIRs. However, all of the exceptions inregulation 10 (and parts of regulation 11) are subject to a public interest test. To clarify, even though we do not hold the information, because we are using EIRs Exception 10(4)(a) in response to your request, we are required to apply a public interest test.

Guidance can be found in the Key Concepts section under ‘Information Not Held’ and ‘The Public Interest Test’ in the attached Scottish Information Commissioner Briefings and Guidance document.

Further guidance on the public interest test can also be found on page 8 of the Scottish Information Commissioner guidance.

Question 4
No remuneration is provided to the members of the the Renewables Export Plan Delivery Group as part of their role in the group.

It may help if I explain that the Scottish Government does not provide any remuneration to external members of the Renewables Export Plan Delivery Group. Additionally, the Scottish Government does not remunerate staff members in any way for participation in the group over and above standard staff salaries.

Therefore, this is a formal notice under Regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs confirming that the Scottish Government does not hold this information. This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. It is important to note that although we do not hold the information and have applied Regulation 10(4)(a) – information not held, it is a requirement that we have to apply the public interest test.

Under regulation 5(1) of the EIRs, a Scottish public authority that holds environmental information must make it available when requested to do so. This duty is not absolute. In some cases, information is excepted from disclosure, under regulations 10 and 11 of the EIRs. However, all of the exceptions in regulation 10 (and parts of regulation 11) are subject to a public interest test. To clarify, even though we do not hold the information, because we are using EIRs Exception 10(4)(a) in response to your request, we are required to apply a public interest test.

Guidance can be found in the Key Concepts section under ‘Information Not Held’ and ‘The Public Interest Test’ in the attached Scottish Information Commissioner Briefings and Guidance document.

Further guidance on the public interest test can also be found on page 8 of the Scottish Information Commissioner guidance.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.