UK Vertical Launch (UKVL) Project Board meeting minutes: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for “copies of minutes taken at any meetings of the UK Vertical Launch (UKVL) Project Board in May, June, July and August.”

Response

The UKVL Project Board changed name to Space Hub Sutherland Programme Board in February 2019 and I have processed your request on the basis that it is the same entity. I enclose a copy of the information you requested by email attachment. Please note that there no meeting of the board took place in July.

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 exemptions under sections 28(1) (relations within the UK); s.33(1)(b) (commercial interests); and s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

Reasons for not providing information - Annex
An exemption applies

An exemption under Section 38(1)(b) – applicant has asked for personal data of a third party applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, ie names/contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 1998. 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 33 (1)(b) - disclosure would (or would be likely to) prejudice substantially the commercial interests of any person or organization.

Information which is commercially sensitive is often described as being “commercially confidential.” However, there is no single exemption in FOISA covering “commercial confidentiality”. FOISA draws a distinction between information where disclosure would have a detrimental effect on commercial interests, and information which is “confidential” under Scots law.

An exemption under Section 28(1) (relations within the UK) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially relations between the Scottish Government and the UK Government.

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.

FOI-19-02049 - Information Released

File type

9 page PDF

File size

199.0 kB