Scottish Forestry Nursery grants and payments to non-executive advisors: FOI release

Information requested

• Can Scottish Forestry provide a list and amounts paid to all nurseries in Scotland or anywhere else in the UK for each of the last four years up to the current time?
• Can Scottish Forestry give the dates Eleanor Ryan and James Stuart were appointed and how much they have been paid for each accounting year?
• Can Scottish Forestry provide information for how much, if any, was paid for each year to Glen Shuraig Consulting Ltd and One Planet Consulting Ltd for the last six years?
• Can Scottish Forestry explain what is meant by James Angus Stuart's claim on Scottish Forestry's register of interests (2023) that 'through my consultancy I have work as ..... and work to support Palladium Group'? Can Scottish Forestry explain what is meant by 'my consultancy'. Is this in a self-employed capacity or is this as One Planet Consulting Ltd? Can Scottish Forestry provide more information on James Stuart's relationship with Palladium. How much has he paid by Palladium for the last five years and what is the work that James Stuart does for Palladium? This needs to be explained so that Scottish Forestry can demonstrate there is no conflict of interest.

Response

Can Scottish Forestry provide a list and amounts paid to all nurseries in Scotland or anywhere else in the UK for each of the last four years up to the current time?

Details of these payments are attached. One recipient’s name has been redacted under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA as it is personal data of a third party (the recipient operates as an individual sole trader rather than as a business).

Can Scottish Forestry give the dates Eleanor Ryan and James Stuart were appointed and how much they have been paid for each accounting year?

The payments to Scottish Forestry’s Non-Executive Advisors are published in our annual report and accounts for each year.

James Stuart was appointed at the formal creation of Scottish Forestry on 1 April 2019 and has been paid £5,000 in each financial year from 2019/20.

Eleanor Ryan was appointed on 16 September 2019 and was paid £2,708.36 in 2019/20 and £5,000 in each subsequent financial year.

Can Scottish Forestry provide information for how much, if any, was paid for each year to Glen Shuraig Consulting Ltd and One Planet Consulting Ltd for the last six years?

No payments have been made to either organisation.

Can Scottish Forestry explain what is meant by James Angus Stuart's claim on Scottish Forestry's register of interests (2023) that 'through my consultancy I have work as ..... and work to support Palladium Group'? Can Scottish Forestry explain what is meant by 'my consultancy'. Is this in a self-employed capacity or is this as One Planet Consulting Ltd? Can Scottish Forestry provide more information on James Stuart's relationship with Palladium. How much has he paid by Palladium for the last five years and what is the work that James Stuart does for Palladium? This needs to be explained so that Scottish Forestry can demonstrate there is no conflict of interest.

Potential conflicts of interest for Strategic Advisory Group members are managed through the process laid out as follows (excerpt from Scottish Forestry appointment letter to non-executive advisors, referred to here as NXAs):

11 Conflicts of Interest

11.1 Scottish Forestry maintains a register of interests held by NXAs. You will be requested separately to supply details of any relevant interests.

11.2 You will not take part in activities which conflict with the interests of Scottish Forestry and, in particular, you must not misuse any information acquired in the course of your appointment to further your private interests or those of others.

11.3 You will declare any personal or business interest which might be perceived to influence your judgement in performing your functions. If any such interest arises in relation to a matter under consideration by the committee/board, you will declare that interest at the relevant meeting for recording in the minutes. You will ensure that such interests are recorded in Scottish Forestry’s Register of Interests.

11.4 You will not participate in any discussion or determination by Scottish Forestry on a matter in which you have a relevant personal or business interest and will withdraw from any such discussion or determination if your interest is direct and pecuniary. If the matter under consideration gives rise to a potential conflict of interest you will inform Scottish Forestry.

Scottish Forestry therefore does not hold information on non-executives’ relationships with, or payments from, other entities unless these are declared as potential conflicts of interest.

Minutes of Strategic Advisory Group meetings, including any declarations of interest made, are available on Scottish Forestry’s website here: https://forestry.gov.scot/publications/about-scottish-forestry/structures/scottish-forestry-strategic-advisory-group

Beyond the register of interests and the Strategic Advisory Group minutes, we do not hold further information on James Stuart’s work for Palladium or any payments made.

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 202300371453 - Information Released - Annex

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