Publication - FOI/EIR release

Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee: EIR release

Published: 5 January 2024
Directorate: Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic: Public sector
FOI reference: 202300355759
Date received: 9 May 2023
Date responded: 12 June 2023

Information request and response under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

Information requested

All briefing notes received by Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, before his appearance at the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 9 May 2023.
All briefing notes received by Mairi McAllan MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition, before her appearance at the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 9 May 2023.
All briefing notes received by Mairi McAllan MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition, before her appearance at the Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee on 26 April 2023.

Response

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

Regarding your request for briefing notes received by Mr Gray before his appearance at the Scottish Parliament's Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 9th May: Some of the information you have requested is available on the Scottish Parliament website here.

Under regulation 6(1)(b) of the EIRs, we do not have to give you information which is already publicly available and easily accessible to you in another form or format. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

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 exceptions under regulations 11 (personal data) and 10(4)(e) (internal communications) of the EIRs applies to that information. The reasons why these exceptions apply are explained in the Annex to this letter.

Regarding your request for all briefing notes received by Ms McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition, before her appearance at the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 9th May: An exemption under regulation 11 (personal data) of the EIRs applies to parts of that information. you have requested. This is because the Scottish Government has a policy of not disclosing the names or details of individuals not of SCS level.

Regarding your request for all briefing notes received by Ms McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition, before her appearance at the Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee on 26th April: Some of the information you have requested is available on the Scottish Parliament website here.

Exemptions under regulation(s) 10(4)(e) (internal communications), regulation 10(5)(f) (third party interests) & regulation 11 (personal data) of the EIRs applies to parts of this information. This is because the Scottish Government has a policy of not disclosing the names or details of individuals not of SCS level, the presence of commercially sensitive information in the document, and the requirement of free and frank provision of advice.

The reasons why that exception(s) applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

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.