Energy social tariff documentation: FOI release

Information requested

All documentation held by the Scottish Government, including email correspondence (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings, analysis, about an energy social tariff, between November 1 2024 and the date of this FOI (21 January 2025).

Response

Some of the information you have requested is available from the Scottish Government website at www.gov.scot/groups/energy-social-tariff-working-group. Responses to parliamentary questions are available at www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/questions-and-answers. Information posted to social media is available at x.com/ScotGovNetZero. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Exemptions under sections s.27(1), s.29(1)(a), s.30(b)(i), s.30(b)(ii), and s.38(1)(b) of FOISA apply to some of the information you have requested. Some of the information does not relate to an energy social tariff and is out of scope.

Section 27(1) exempts information from disclosure if we plan to publish the information no later than 12 weeks after the date the request is made. Every meeting of the Social Tariff Working Group is minuted and will be published on the website (provided above) following approval of the group. The group will conclude its work by the end of February.

Section 29(1)(a) of FOISA exempts information from disclosure if it relates to the formulation or development of government policy. Information is exempt under sections 30(b) if disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially (i) the free and frank provision of advice (section 30(b)(i)) or (ii) the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation (section 30(b)(ii)). These exemptions are 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 exemptions in most of the cases.

We recognise that there is public interest in the policy options available to Scottish Ministers on the delivery of an energy social tariff mechanism. However, Ministers, officials, and – in the case of a codesign process – external stakeholders, must be able to explore all available options, and the risks, costs, and implications of different options, particularly during the initial stages of policy development where decisions have not yet been made around recommendations to be made to Scottish and UK Ministers. Third parties entered into these co-design discussions on the basis that they could contribute to free and frank policy discussions to support Scottish Ministers and, in time, the UK Government to make decisions around an energy social tariff. We do not feel it would be in the public interest to hinder these discussions. The public interest is also served by the fact that meetings themselves are minuted and published, and contributions will be reflected in a final public report once agreed. There is therefore a greater public interest in allowing officials and third parties the required space within which to develop and set out such options as part of the process of exploring and refining government policy before reaching a settled view. This private space is essential to enable all options to be properly considered so that good decisions can be taken based on fully informed advice and evidence.

Section 38(1)(b) exempts the disclosure of personal data which would contravene data protection principles.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202500448771 - Information released - E-mails

File type

PDF

File size

5.8 MB

FOI 202500448771 - Information released - Documents

File type

PDF

File size

2.0 MB