Engagement with True North (Scotland) LTD: EIR release

Information requested

1. What was discussed at the meeting between True North (Scotland) Ltd and Scottish Government officials on Wednesday 3rd May 2023.

2. What was discussed at the meeting between True North (Scotland) Ltd and Scottish Government officials on Wednesday 6th September 2023.

3. What was the subject of the event that took place on Wednesday 10th May 2023 with True North (Scotland) Ltd and the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, whether any discussions took place, and if so, what they were.

4. What was the subject of the event that took place on Thursday 7th September 2023 with True North (Scotland) Ltd and the First Minister, whether any discussions took place, and if so, what they were.

Response

As the information you have requested is 'environmental information' for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

1. This was a planning meeting to discuss the arrangements for the meeting on Wednesday 10th May. There was no note of this meeting taken.

2. This was a planning meeting to discuss the arrangements for the meeting on Thursday 7th September. There was no note of this meeting taken.

3. This meeting was organised and hosted by True North Ltd. The meeting was an opportunity for the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy to meet with key stakeholders from the energy sector and provide an update on priorities for Scottish Government in energy. There was no note of this meeting taken.

4. This meeting was organised and hosted by True North Ltd, as an opportunity for the First Minister to meet with energy business leaders and discuss the Scottish Government's priorities. Discussion points covered investment, energy transition and skills.

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.