FOI/202300379427 · FOI/EIR · partially withheld
Science Advisory Group for Scottish Biodiversity Strategy: EIR release
Information requested
Information relating to the Science Advisory Group for Scottish Biodiversity Strategy. Specifically, you have asked the following questions:
What was the date of formation of the Science Advisory Group for Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Who is a member of this group? What is the cost to the Scottish Government of operating this group from the date of formation to 4/10/23? Are any members of this group remunerated, if so what for?
Response
As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.
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, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.
Response to your request
The answer to your questions are as follows:
1. The Science Advisory Group for Scottish Biodiversity Strategy was formed in December 2019. The group first met virtually on 25 May 2021.
2. Members of the Science Advisory Group for Scottish Biodiversity Strategy are outlined in the table below.
3. The total cost of operating this group to date is £217.90, this expenditure was for catering an inperson meeting which took place on 25 August 2023 at Victoria Quay, Edinburgh. Please note, members are entitled to claim for Travel & Subsistence, though no claims have been made to date.
4. No members of this group are remunerated, participation in this group is voluntary.
List of Members
MEMBER ORGANISATION & ROLE Professor Mathew Williams (chair) Scottish Government, Chief Scientific Adviser – Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Professor Des Thompson FRSE NatureScot, Principal Adviser on Science and Biodiversity Dr Helen McKay OBE FICF Scotland’s Chief Forester Professor Jerry Wilson FRSE Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Dr Janet Fisher University of Edinburgh Professor Rob Brooker James Hutton Institute Professor Beth Scott University of Aberdeen Professor Kirsty Park University of Stirling Professor Pete Hollingsworth FRSE Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) Fiona Simpson Scottish Government Ben James NatureScot Professor Davy McCracken Scotland’s Rural University College (SRUC) Professor Chris Spray MBE FCIEEM Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and University of Dundee Dr Pete Chaniotis JNCC Marine Ecosystems Team Leader Dr Philip Boulcott Marine Scotland Simon Fuller Scottish Government – Deputy Director, Rural Environment and Analytical Service (RESAS)
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.
Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Enquiry Unit Email: ceu@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrews House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Detected exemption language
We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA. 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, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes.
Attachments
No attachments found.