FOI/202400433885 · FOI · partially withheld
Sporting rates charged to public bodies: FOI release
Information requested
How much was raised by sporting rates on deer forests, and in total, in each year from 2017-2024, and how much was raised by sporting rates charged to public bodies in each year from 2017-2024 inclusive?
Response
In dealing with your request, I have understood 'sporting rates' to mean non-domestic rates charged on shooting rights and deer forests.
Response to your request
The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because the collection of non-domestic rates is a matter for local councils.
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. You may wish to contact individual local councils who may be able to help you. Contact details for each council are available at https://www.mygov.scot/organisations#scottish-local-authority.
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.
Estimates provided
However, while we do not have information on the exact amounts raised, we are able to produce estimates of some of the figures requested, based on statistical information collected by the Scottish Government. These can be found in the attached workbook.
These figures are estimates based on the valuations and reliefs in place on 1 June 2018, 31 May 2019, 1 July 2020, 1 June 2021, and 1 July 2022. Information for 2017 is not available, and we do not consider the 2023 reliefs data to be of sufficient quality to produce estimates. More information about the 2023 billing system snapshot is available at: Non-domestic rates relief statistics 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). Estimates for 2024 are expected to be published on 5 November 2024.
These estimates are based on snapshot information, and therefore may not fully reflect the actual amounts paid throughout the year. For example, reliefs may have been cancelled part way through the year, or applied after the snapshot and backdated. Any changes made to reliefs or valuations after the snapshot dates are not reflected in these estimates.
Due to a lack of data, we are unable to identify deer forests from shooting rights.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Detected exemption language
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. 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.