Publication - FOI/EIR release

Uig Triangle Calmac service correspondence: FOI release

Published: 30 January 2024
Topic: Public sector
FOI reference: 202200305839
Date received: 14 June 2022
Date responded: 9 November 2022

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Information requested

All correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, briefings, WhatsApp messages or otherwise) between Ministers of the Scottish Government and business and community groups from the Outer Hebrides regarding CalMac's ferry services on the Uig Triangle route from 1 January 2018 to 14 June 2022

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested. As the 'business and community groups' are not named in your enquiry, I have searched our records under the names of business and community groups I am aware of.

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 of the following exemptions of FOISA which apply to some of the information you have requested.

An exemption under Section 38(1)(b) regarding third party data is applicable because the information is personal data of third parties and disclosing it would contravene data protection principles.

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 as part of an open, transparent and accountable government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in ensuring that the Scottish Government is able to carry out this aspect of its business effectively.

An exemption under Section 38(1)(c) regarding personal data relating to names of Scottish Government officials is also applicable.

The response to your request can be found in the attached Annexes.

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.