Correspondence regarding support to house Great Tapestry of Scotland: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/18/02368  
Date received: 3 September 2018
Date responded: 28 September 2018

 

 

Any correspondence between any minister or employee of the Scottish Government and any member of staff of Scottish Borders Council since 5 September 2017 regarding the Scottish Government’s support, financial or otherwise, for the construction of a facility to house the Great Tapestry of Scotland.

 

 

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested.

The remainder of the information you have requested relates to funding announcements and can be accessed using the following links:

https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/news/article/2085/tapestry_visitor_centre_planning_application_submitted

and

https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/news/article/2318/demolition_kickstarts_regeneration_of_galashiels

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. 

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some details relating to the information you have requested because exemptions under sections s.33(1)(b) Commercial Interests and s.38(1)(b) Personal information of FOISA applies to that information.  The reasons why the exemptions apply are explained below.

 

An exemption applies.

An exemption under section, s.38(1)(b) Personal information of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.  This relates to personal data, which if disclosed would contravene data protection regulations.

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.

An exemption under section, s.33(1)(b) Commercial interests of FOISA applies to some the information you have requested.

This exemption applies because it relates to sensitive bank details.

In this case 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.

An exemption applies, subject to the public interest test.

An exemption under section, s.33(1)(b) Commercial interests of FOISA applies to some the information you have requested.

This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of Scottish Borders Council. Disclosing this sensitive data into the public domain would be prejudicial in allowing the identification of commercial contract rates.

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. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open and transparent government, and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of parties who tender for external contracts, to ensure that best value is always obtained for public money.

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