Briefings regarding National Public Energy Agency: FOI release

Information requested

Briefings from civil servants and special advisers given to Scottish Ministers from 7 May 2021 to June 2021 on a national energy company and from June 2021 to the date of request on the National Public Energy Agency.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide most of the information you have requested because an exemption(s) under sections 29 (1)(a) (policy formation) and section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. These exemptions apply as the documents contain information about potential policies undertaken or which and personal details of Scottish government staff.

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 the briefings concern the formation of a new National Energy Agency which will act as a central way to implement the commitments made in the Heat in Buildings Strategy (2021) . However, this is outweighed by the public interest as the policy concerned is evolving with current changes within the energy industry and we need to finalise this policy before releasing this to the public.

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.

FOI - 202200291449 - Information Released - Annex

File type

2 page PDF

File size

222.5 kB