Correspondence relating to proposed Royal Air Force Space Command: FOI release

Information requested

Copies of any correspondence involving ministers in 2020 in which there is discussion of the UK Government’s proposed creation on an “RAF Space Command”, and its impact and/or relation to Scotland, and/or spaceport projects in Scotland.

Response

We have found two pieces of information that fell within the scope of your request and can now provide you with the attached Annex B. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with all of the information contained within the documents as a statutory exemption under FOI(S)A applies and other information contained is outside of scope. Further information on this exemption and why it applies has been included for reference in Annex A.

Annex A
REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

Exemptions apply, subject to the public interest test
An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of one or all parties this information relates to.

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 a public interest in disclosing information as part of open and transparent government, and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of the parties involved.

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FOI202000130959 - Annex B

File type

5 page PDF

File size

379.8 kB