Information relating to Scottish Public Service Obligation (PSO): FOI release

Information requested

1. Policy documentation detailing the Public Service Obligation (PSO) minimum requirements, criteria, and provisions for the Glasgow to Barra, Campbeltown and Tiree air routes.

2. Annual subsidies paid on the above routes from Transport Scotland for the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

3. Minutes from committee meetings relating to the Public Service Obligation provisions.

4. Any further information held relating to the Public Service Obligation service, including contractual agreements.

You clarified that the first part of part four of your request could be removed.

Response

1. Attached are copies of the specifications for the PSO air services from Glasgow to Barra, Campbeltown and Tiree for the contract periods 19 June 2013 to 24 October 2015, 25 October 2015 to 24 October 2019 and 25 October 2019 to 24 October 2023. For ease of reference I’ve included each specification as a separate document but you’ll note that the specifications are also included in the tender documents for each contract period.

2. The following table contains annual subsidy figures for the services.

Year	Subsidy (£)
2013-14	2,343,446.80
2014-15	2,474,487.84
2015-16	2,893,594.78
2016-17	4,045,808.37
2017-18	4,202,093.91
2018-19	4,339,319.61
2019-20	4,799,942.25
2020-21	4,976,439.53

Attached is a more detailed breakdown of the subsidy figures. 

3. There are no committee meetings relating to Public Service Obligation provisions and as such we do not hold minutes of such meetings.

4. Attached is a copy of some of the information 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 sections 33(1)(b), 36(2) and 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained in the Annex. For ease of reference I have included the following documents:

Contract Period 2013 to 2015

• Reassessment of PSO adequacy submitted to the European Commission.
• Tender Document.
• Tender Bulletins 1, 2 and 3.
• Contract Award letter.
• 2013-14 payment letter.

Contract Period 2015 to 2019

• Reassessment of PSO adequacy submitted to the European Commission.
• Tender Document.
• Tender Bulletins 1 to 6.
• Contract Award letter.

Contract Period 2019 to 2023

• Reassessment of PSO adequacy submitted to the European Commission.
• Tender Document.
• Contract Award letter.

Due to the size of the files we are unable to upload the documents referred to above. If you wish to consider, please contact us at the address below and we will be happy to provide.

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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.