202200329951 · FOI · partially withheld
Financial assurance to Ferguson Marine: FOI release
Information requested
The relevant Scottish Government minister’s response(s) to the attached letter. A copy of the discussed letter written by the Scottish Government’s to provide financial assurance support to the yard for this particular bid. All Scottish Government letters which commit to provide financial assurance support for Ferguson Marine should the yard win a contract.
Response
I apologise for the delayed response to your request. I enclose a copy of some 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 an exemption under Section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information.
Additionally, we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under Section 33(1)(b) – Substantial prejudice to commercial interests of FOISA applies to that information. Revealing the contracts for which Ferguson Marine has bid would constitute a substantial disadvantage to its commercial operations, and would be an unfair intervention in the market in favour of its competitors.
In regard to point 3 of your request, Scottish Government does not possess any documents committing it to provide financial assurance support for Ferguson Marine should the yard win a contract. In the document we are releasing as part of this Freedom of Information request, Scottish Government has indicated that it would provide support to Ferguson Marine in certain circumstances, subject to due diligence. In this respect its support is conditional, and cannot be described as a “commitment”. Please note that Annex B is the "attached letter" referred to in Annex A.
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
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 information) of FOISA applies to that information. Additionally, we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under Section 33(1)(b) – Substantial prejudice to commercial interests of FOISA applies to that information.