Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) survey data: EIR release

Information requested

Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I would like to request data on Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) survey results in Scotland. Specifically, I am requesting:
1. PCN survey results from 2015 to the most recent year available, broken down by geographical unit (e.g. parish, postcode sector, or the smallest area you are able to release without breaching farm-level confidentiality).
2. For each unit, please provide:

• Number of land samples tested
• Number of positive detections
• PCN species identified (Globodera rostochiensis, Globodera pallida)
• Approximate infested area (if recorded)

3.Any available summary statistics on trends in PCN prevalence across Scotland during the same period.

I understand that farm-level identifiers (individual farms, field coordinates, or grower names) may be exempt from release under data protection or confidentiality provisions. Please provide the maximum level of disaggregation possible within these constraints.
If possible, I would prefer the data to be supplied in CSV or Excel format.

Response

As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we
are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
(FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

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, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

Response to your request

I enclose a copy of the information you requested in excel format as requested. The data provided have been collected through the official PCN survey in accordance with Article 6 and Annex III, Section 2 of the EU 2007 PCN Directive (2007/33/EC).

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, as you have acknowledged in your request, an exception under regulation 10(5)(f) of the EIRs (substantial prejudice to interests of person who provided the information) applies to farm-level identifiers. The reasons why that exception(s) applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

In order to provide the level of granularity you have requested, I have provided redacted sample and parish level data, as well as full county-level data, which is considered the smallest area I am able to release without breaching farm-level confidentiality.

​​​​​​​I have also provided summary statistics collected through official SPCS testing from 2010 to 2025 to show trends in PCN prevalence across Scotland during the same period. This is available in the same excel sheet but has not been taken directly from the data included.

Annex 1 -

Regulation 10(5)(f) – substantial prejudice to interests of person who provided the information

An exception under regulation 10(5)(f) of the EIRs (substantial prejudice to interests of person who provided the information) applies to some of the information you have requested.  This exception applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the interests of the potato growers who provided that information to the Scottish Government.  They:

• were not under any legal obligation to give us that information;
• did not supply it in circumstances in which it could, apart from the EIRs, be made available; and
• have not consented to disclosure.

This exception 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 exception.  We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception.  We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open and transparent government.  However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the interests of anyone, such as potato growers, who provide the Scottish Government with information o a confidential basis.  Disclosing such information against the express wishes of the stakeholder is likely to undermine their trust in the Government and make them reluctant in future to share information with us on issues such as the presence and distribution of PCN on potato growing land.  This would significantly impair the Scottish Government’s ability t develop policies and make decisions on the basis of fully informed advice andevidence.  This would not be in the public interest.

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 202500486187 - Information Released - Annex

File type

Excel document

File size

30.9 kB