Rural crime in Scotland: FOI release

Information requested

1. Any correspondence sent or received by Jim Fairlie on the topic of rural crime in Scotland within the last three months.
2. Any correspondence sent or received by Siobhian Brown on the topic of rural crime in Scotland within the last three months.

Response

1. Any correspondence sent or received by Jim Fairlie on the topic of rural crime in Scotland within the last three months.

I have attached relevant correspondence, however exemptions under third party data: (section 38(1)(b)), the free and frank provision of advice (section 30(b)(i)) of FOISA apply to some of the information you have requested.

1. Any correspondence sent or received by Siobhian Brown on the topic of rural crime in Scotland within the last three months.

I have attached relevant correspondence however exemptions under third party data: (section 38(1)(b)), the free and frank provision of advice (section 30(b)(i)) of FOISA apply to some of the information you have requested.

The exemption applied under the free and frank provision of advice (section 30(b)(i)) of FOISA 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 interest in release, however this is outweighed as the public interest sits with keeping a private space for officials to engage as if this space did not exist, it would inhibit the free and frank exchange of views. Therefore the public interest is not to release the information which is redacted under the free and frank provision of advice (section 30(b)(i))

It may be worth noting that much of the information pertains to Parliamentary Questions, all questions and responses can be found here.

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 202500489507 - Information Released - Annex

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