Lobbying in Scotland meeting minutes with energy companies: EIR release

Information requested

I have looked at the Scottish Lobbying Register and would like to ask you if you could provide minutes or any other information you may have regarding what was discussed in these meetings:

• 01/11/2021 with BP
• 06/12/2021 with BP
• 15/06/2022 with BP
• 09/05/2022 with Hutcheson Associates Ltd

Response

According to our records, there was no meeting with BP on 01/11/2021, so we are unable to provide any information on this. Therefore we are citing Regulation 10(4)(a) of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 in not providing any information on this matter.

According to our records, there was no meeting with BP on 15/06/2022, so we are unable to provide any information on this. Therefore we are citing Regulation 10(4)(a) of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 in not providing any information on this matter.

According to our records, there was no meeting with Hutcheson Associates Ltd on 09/05/2022, so we are unable to provide any information on this. Therefore we are citing Regulation 10(4)(a) of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 in not providing any information on this matter. I also enclose a copy of information held by the Scottish Government that helps to answer your question above as regards the meeting on 06/12/2021. Some material has been redacted due to Regulation 11 (Personal Data) of EIR.

Also, some material has been redacted on the grounds of Internal communications - Regulation 10(4) (e) of EIR. This is because revealing this information would be likely to substantially prejudice the interests of the good functioning of Scottish Government. As the exemption is conditional, we have applied the 'public interest test'. This means we have, in all the circumstances of this case, considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the exemptions. We have found that, on balance, at this time the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemptions. While we recognise that there is a general public interest in disclosure, there is a greater public interest in protecting a space for officials to provide candid advice to Scottish Ministers.

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.

202300344585_released

File type

5 page PDF

File size

445.3 kB