FOI/202600517665 · FOI · not held
Air Departure Tax impact on Highlands and Islands passengers analysis: FOI release
Information requested
The most recent analysis, assessment or briefing held by the Scottish Government which considers the impact of the proposed Air Departure Tax Highlands and Islands exemption on passengers travelling from Highlands and Islands airports to international destinations via another Scottish airport.
Within this request, you specified that the Scottish Government should include any analysis of the example set out in the consultation where a passenger travels from Kirkwall to Paris via Edinburgh.
Response
I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested.
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 exemptions under section 29(1)(a) (formulation or development of government policy) of FOISA applies to that information.
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 the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because there is a public interest in Air Departure Tax policy. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in ensuring that Scottish Ministers are able to consider and develop options and priorities for Scottish Ministers, prior to determining whether options should be translated into policy or legislation.
Please note that the enclosed analysis does not make reference to the example you included in your request, in relation to the carriage of passengers travelling from Kirkwall to Paris via Edinburgh, as the Scottish Government does not hold this information.
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Detected exemption language
Information requested The most recent analysis, assessment or briefing held by the Scottish Government which considers the impact of the proposed Air Departure Tax Highlands and Islands exemption on passengers travelling from Highlands and Islands airports to international destinations via another Scottish airport. 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 exemptions under section 29(1)(a) (formulation or development of government policy) of FOISA applies to that information. 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 the exemption.