Correspondence with IOD PARC as consultancy support ahead of COP26: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Information requested
1. All internal correspondence between the Scottish Government and IOD PARC or its employees as part of the firm's work as consultancy support ahead of COP26 to develop a strategy for how the Scottish Government could reach its aims for the Under 2 Coalition and COP26.
2. All copies of the contract, specification of work, agreement, or further details about the work being undertaken by IOD PARC under this contract.
3. Any draft, informal, or formal report or document outlining the strategy supported in its development by IOD PARC during its contract with the Scottish Government.
Response
I attach a copy of some of the information you requested at the separately attached annexes.
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 exemptions under sections 30(b)(ii) (substantial inhibition to free and frank exchange of views) and s.33(1)(b) (Substantial prejudice to commercial interests) of FOISA applies to that information. These exemptions are subject to the 'public interest test' and the reasons why these exemptions apply are explained at the base of this reply.
Exemptions under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA also apply to some of the information you have requested. This is because it is the personal data of a third party, specifically the names/contact points of individuals, and disclosing them would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.
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.
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 Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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