Due diligence on Liberty Steel business plan for Dalzell Clydebridge Steelworks: FOI review

Information requested

Provide a copy of the due diligence carried out by Ernst and Young in 2016 on Liberty’s financial standing and business plan to take over the Dalzell Clydebridge Steelworks.

Response

I have concluded that the original decision should be upheld without modifications. I have considered whether the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemptions and that on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemptions.

Although it is important that in all cases there must be a balance between the public interest in transparency against the private interest in confidentiality I have determined disclosure of additional information would not serve a greater public interest and is likely to prejudice substantially the commercial interests of the companies involved.

Exemptions under section Section 33(1)(b) (Commercial Interests) and Section 38(1)(b)(Personal Data) of FOISA apply to that information. The topics discussed were at a preliminary stage of consideration when private space to discuss was essential and relate to the ongoing strategy employed in keeping the site viable.

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