Correspondence which relates to HMP Kilmarnock: FOI release

Information requested

Since 17 March 2024 has the Scottish Government:

1. Met or spoken with the Scottish Prison Service to discuss the the nationalisation of HMP Kilmarnock?

2. If the answer is yes to (1), can you outline how many times the Scottish Government has met or spoken to the Scottish Prison Service to discuss HMP Kilmarnock?

3. If possible, can you share any correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Government which relates to HMP Kilmarnock since it was nationalised?

Response

In response to the first part of your request, I can confirm that colleagues from the Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service have met on a regular basis since 17 March 2024 to discuss a range of issues, including the transition of HMP Kilmarnock into public ownership and management.

In response to the second part of your request, the Scottish Government has not kept a record of the number of meetings or calls with the Scottish Prison Service where HMP Kilmarnock has been
discussed. 

In response to the third part of your request, as we set out in the acknowledgement letter, we are interpreting this as to refer to correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Scottish
Prison Service. While we do endeavour to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the costs of locating, retrieving and providing the information requested would exceed the upper cost limit of £600. This is due to the volume of information that was identified in the initial searches of our corporate systems. Under section 12 of FOISA public authorities are not required to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying would exceed the upper cost limit, which is currently set at £600 by Regulations made under section 12. You may, however, wish to consider reducing the scope of your request in order that the costs can be brought below £600. It is likely that the most useful way to do this would be to give us an indication of which particular information you are interested in to allow us to undertake a more focussed approach to look for information. You may also find it helpful to look at the Scottish Information Commissioner's 'Tips for requesting information under FOI and the EIRs' on his website at: Tips for requesters (itspublicknowledge.info)

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.