Flamingo Land development review and appeal process information: FOI Review

Information requested

Original Request: 202500467127

Please provide any conflict of interest declarations, gift/hospitality registers, recusal statements, or financial interest disclosures submitted by Scottish Government staff, Ministers, or planning officials involved in the Flamingo Land development review or appeal process. This includes disclosures made between 1st January 2019 and the present, whether recorded formally or in staff registers.

Response

Further to my previous letter I have now completed my review of our response to your request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). I have concluded that the original decision should be confirmed with modifications.

You requested:

“The spreadsheet provided appears to relate exclusively to Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (PLEA) staff. However, my request clearly asked for:

- Conflict of interest declarations,
- Gift and hospitality registers,
- Recusal statements, and
- Financial disclosures

…submitted by any Scottish Government staff, Ministers, or planning officials involved in the review or appeal process.

I respectfully request that you:

- Confirm whether such records exist elsewhere and were searched;
- Release any non-exempt information held;
- Clarify the application of Section 38(1)(b) to specific withheld entries.”

I attach a copy of 8 interest register records, of those 8, 4 had not completed a return and a further 4 had no interests to declare.

I also attach a copy of 1 gift register entry.

We have redacted some of the information as in this instance an exemption under s38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. 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. The exemption has been applied to the names and addresses (where listed as an interest) of junior Scottish Government officials. I have also reviewed the original response and the unredacted version of the information, and I can confirm that exemption section 38(1) (b), relating to personal information, was also applied to redact the names and other personal details of junior Scottish Government officials.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. This is because this information is held by The Scottish Parliament, accordingly you can find a copy of Scottish Ministers engagements, travel and gifts here Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scot. You can also find a copy of all Members of the Scottish Parliaments interests here Register of Interests | Scottish Parliament Website

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 202500478514 - Information released - Annex A

File type

Excel document

File size

54.8 kB

FOI 202500478514 - Information released - Annex B

File type

Excel document

File size

53.8 kB