Correspondence relating to the NorthLink’s current Risk Assessment regarding shared cabins: FOI release
- Published
- 7 May 2026
- Topic
- Public sector, Transport
- FOI reference
- FOI/202500497837
- Date received
- 11 December 2025
- Date responded
- 13 January 2026
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Information requested
1. A copy of ‘NorthLink’s current Risk Assessment’ regarding shared cabins, as referred to in the Cabinet Secretary for Transport’s letter of 24th July 2025 to Beatrice Wishart MSP, if held;
2. Any held correspondence relating to the above document or its contents;
3. Any correspondence relating to Written Parliamentary Question S6W-35681 asked by Beatrice Wishart MSP.
4. Any correspondence relating to Oral Parliamentary Question S6O-05039 asked by Liam McArthur MSP. If this request is too wide or unclear, I would be grateful if you could get in touch in order to clarify.."
I emailed 15 December 2025 to clarify part 4 as Oral Parliamentary Question S6O-05039 lodged by Liam McArthur, stated: “To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of sustained overcrowding in prisons on suicide and self-harm prevention.” and this subject matter was entirely distinct from the other points raised. You responded 15 December 2025 clarifying that the correct reference number is S6O-05014 To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to reintroducing the "shared cabin" policy as a condition of the next Northern Isles Ferry Services contract.
The response for part 4 has been based on the clarification provided.
Response
Part 1
The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because the document requested is produced and retained by Serco NorthLink Ferries and is not held by the Scottish Government.
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.
Parts 2-4
I enclose a copy of the information you requested.
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.
- File type
- File size
- 1.9 MB
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG