FOI/202400423290 · FOI/EIR · partially withheld
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) lobbying event: EIR release
Information requested
Minutes and correspondence relating to this lobbying event:
SSE SSE Plc lobbying.scot/return/51940/SSE Plc Published date : 14/06/2024 Return amended : Purpose of the lobbying : To update the Minister on the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) projects' progress, community benefit and the socio-economic benefits and supply chain opportunities associated with our multi-billion pound investment in the north of Scotland. Inaccurate information report : No
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.
1. I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested in the format you asked for.
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 exception under regulation 11 (personal data) of the EIRs applies to that information. The reasons why that exception(s) applies are explained below.
An exception applies
An exception under regulation 11 of the EIRs applies to some of the information you have requested. Regulation 11 of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (the EIRs) sets outs when personal data can and cannot be disclosed under the EIRs. Regulation 10(3) makes it clear that, where a request for environmental information includes personal data, the personal data must not be made available (i.e. disclosed) otherwise than in accordance with regulation 11.
This exception 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 exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception.
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.
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. Regulation 10(3) makes it clear that, where a request for environmental information includes personal data, the personal data must not be made available (i.e.