Non-fuel subsidy and fuel payment anticipated: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/18/01370
Date received: 14 May 2018
Date responded: 12 June 2018

Information requested

"Provide the following in relation to the contract extension to the Gourock to Dunoon PSC, July 2017 to March 2018.

1. The initial non-fuel subsidy payment anticipated when the extension was signed and the outrun figure as at 31st March 2018.

2. Information held by Transport Scotland explaining any difference between the two figures in question 1.

3. The initial fuel cost anticipated when the extension was signed and the outrun figure as at 31st March 2018.

4. Information held by TS in respect to s5.9 of the PSC during the contract extension period.

5. Information held by TS in respect to Part 7 of the PSC during the contract extension period."

Response

I am writing with the formal response to your request.

1. The initial non-fuel subsidy payment anticipated when the extension was signed and the outrun figure as at 31st March 2018.

The initial non-fuel subsidy anticipated payment when the extension was signed was estimated at £2,242,667.

In relation to the outrun figure as at 31 March 2018, The Scottish Government does not hold this information because the outcome statement for that period has not yet been agreed and as such the total amount of subsidy for that period cannot be given. This extension period concluded on 31 March 2018 and Argyll Ferries Limited is in the process of compiling the actual financial information for the period, which will be sent to Transport Scotland for review and sign off as soon as is practicable.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested in relation to the non-fuel fuel subsidy outrun payment as at 31 March 2018.

2. Information held by Transport Scotland explaining any difference between the two figures in question 1.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information due to the fact that the outrun figure to March 2018 is unknown, no comparison can be undertaken.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

3. The initial fuel cost anticipated when the extension was signed and the outrun figure as at 31st March 2018.

The initial fuel cost anticipated payment when the extension was signed was estimated at £208,806.

In relation to the outrun figure as at 31 March 2018, The Scottish Government does not hold this information because the outcome statement for that period has not yet been agreed and as such the total amount of subsidy for that period cannot be given. This extension period concluded on 31 March 2018 and Argyll Ferries Limited is in the process of compiling the actual financial information for the period, which will be sent to Transport Scotland for review and sign off as soon as is practicable.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested in relation to the fuel cost outrun figure at at 31 March 2018.

4. Information held by TS in respect to s5.9 of the PSC during the contract extension period.

Section 12 of FOISA states that public authorities are not required to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying would exceed the upper cost limit, which is currently set at £600 by Regulations made under section 12.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the costs of locating, retrieving and providing the information requested as per part 4 of the request would exceed the upper cost limit of £600.

Having conducted an initial search of our local records system, there were a total of 830 related documents. In order to effectively answer your request, firstly we would have to ascertain whether each individual document is specifically relevant to the request, then a degree of meticulousness would have to be employed to then further ascertain what information is and is not in scope of your request and if necessary, redact some information.

You may, however, wish to consider reducing the scope of your request in order that the costs can be brought below £600.

5. Information held by TS in respect to Part 7 of the PSC during the contract extension period.

Section 12 of FOISA states that public authorities are not required to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying would exceed the upper cost limit, which is currently set at £600 by Regulations made under section 12.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the costs of locating, retrieving and providing the information requested as per part 5 of the request would exceed the upper cost limit of £600.

Having conducted an initial search of our local records system, there were a total of 3,561 related documents. In order to effectively answer your request, firstly we would have to ascertain whether each individual document is specifically relevant to the request, then a degree of meticulousness would have to be employed to then further ascertain what information is and is not in scope of your request and if necessary, redact some information.

You may, however, wish to consider reducing the scope of your request in order that the costs can be brought below £600.

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