Communications and Ministerial visits to Glasgow Prestwick Airport: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
FOI reference: FOI/17/02029
Date received: 4 September 2017
Date responded: 20 October 2017
Information requested
Please list all:
- All ministerial visits by Scottish Government ministers to Glasgow Prestwick Airport since 1 January 2015, by name of minster, date of visit, purpose of visit and names of primary attendees.
Please release agendas and minutes for each of the above.
- All meetings between Scottish Government ministers and executives of Glasgow Prestwick Airport since 1 January 2015, by name of minister, date and location of meeting and names of attendees.
Please release agendas and minutes for each of the above.
- Any meetings involving Scottish Government ministers during their visits to the USA since 1 January 2015 where Glasgow Prestwick Airport was on the agenda, by name of minister, date of meeting and names of attendees.
Please release agendas and minutes for each of the above.
If it would assist your search, please restrict this request to include the First Minister of Scotland, Cabinet members and ministers responsible for Business during this time period, Cabinet members and ministers responsible for Transport during this period, and Cabinet members and ministers responsible for infrastructure during this period.
Response
I enclose a copy of some of the information that you requested (Annex A and Annex B). While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under sections s.30(b)(ii) Free and frank exchange of views, s.33(1)(b) Commercial interests or s.38(1)(b) Personal data relating to third party of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained below. Any information outwith the scope of your request has also been redacted.
In this instance, for your request for "any meetings involving Scottish Government ministers during their visits to the USA since 1 January 2015 where Glasgow Prestwick Airport was on the agenda, by name of minister, date of meeting and names of attendees" the information you have requested is not held by Scottish Government.
Reasons for not providing information
Exemptions under section s.30(b)(ii) of FOISA apply to some of the information you have requested as it involves frank discussions in relation to the development of potential future aspects of the airport. 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. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because there is an interest in the discussions around the opportunities open to the airport. However, this is outweighed by the public interest that it could be damaging to the airport's plans if this information was released given these opportunities are still being discussed and explored. Disclosure of this information could hamper efforts to return the company to profitability.
Exemptions under sections s.33(1)(b) of FOISA apply to some of the information you have requested as it relates to the commercial opportunities for Glasgow Prestwick Airport. 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. We recognise that there is some public interest in release as the public will wish to know how the airport intends to continually improve its performance. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in allowing the airport the space to compete in what is a very competitive industry. Releasing this commercial information would put the airport at a disadvantage to its competitors.
Exemptions under sections s.(38)(1)(b) of FOISA apply to some of the information you have requested as it relates to personal data. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.
The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because we have no information regarding meetings involving Scottish Government Ministers during their visits to the USA since 1 January 2015 where Glasgow Prestwick Airport was on the agenda. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.
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
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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