Cabinet Secretary Net Zero, Energy and Transport engagements regarding Carbon Capture: FOI release

Information requested

All diary engagements of the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport in relation to Carbon Capture including, but not exclusively, dates, times, locations, attendance, minutes

Response

I attach a copy of some of the information you requested.

Please note that, although the materials relating to the Cabinet Secretary's introductory meeting with Mike Smith (outgoing CEO) and Ronnie Quinn (incoming CEO) of NECCUS are dated 12 August 2021,
the meeting occurred on 13 August 2021.

An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of the FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. Section 29(1)(a) exempts information from release if it relates to the formulation or development of government policy. The exemption applies in this instance because some of the information you have requested satisfies this requirement.

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 some public interest in release because of the general public interest that information is accessible. However, in this instance, this is outweighed by the public interest in ensuring government can fully explore all options in formulating or developing policy. 

An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of the FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. Section 33(1)(b) exempts information from release if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of any person. The exemption applies in this instance because some of the information you have requested satisfies this requirement. 

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 some public interest in release because of the general public interest that information is accessible. However, in this instance, this is outweighed by the public interest in ensuring release does not substantially prejudice legitimate commercial interests. 

An exemption under section 38(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested because it relates to personal data of a third party. This exemption applies to information if disclosure would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. 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.

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FoI 202100251136 Information released

File type

34 page PDF

File size

1.3 MB