· FOI · partially withheld
Correspondence with Chinese Government regarding Edinburgh Zoo pandas: FOI release
Information requested
In relation to the recent response to a Freedom of Information request on the pandas at Edinburgh Zoo, a copy of the request and a copy of the response to the request, including the information which was disclosed.
Response
I enclose a redacted copy of the Freedom of Information request, reference number FOI/17/01721, at Annex 1, and a redacted copy of the response at Annex 2. 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 an exemption under section 38(1)(b) (personal data of a third party) of FOISA applies to that information. An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of this information because it is personal data of a third party, ie names/contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 1998. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.
Please be aware that the published version of the request and response can also be viewed electronically on the Scottish Government website at /publications/foi-17-01721/.
Detected exemption language
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 an exemption under section 38(1)(b) (personal data of a third party) of FOISA applies to that information. An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of this information because it is personal data of a third party, ie names/contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 1998. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.