Peatland repairs with the help of funding from Peatland Action: EIR release

Information requested

For the financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22, please provide:

1. How many hectares of peatland were repaired or rejuvenated with the help of funding from Peatland Action (NatureScot)?
2. What was the total number of projects funded by Peatland Action (NatureScot)?
3. What was the total overall value of the projects funded by Peatland Action (NatureScot)?
4. What was the total funding provided by Peatland Action (NatureScot) as a share of the total overall value?

Response

Question 1 - How many hectares of peatland were repaired or rejuvenated with the help of funding from Peatland Action (NatureScot)?

The figures for the requested time periods are as follows:

• 2020-21: 5,658 hectares; and
• 2021-22: 3,934 hectares.

Question 4 - What was the total funding provided by Peatland Action (NatureScot) as a share of the total overall value?

The figures for the requested time periods are as follows:

2020-21: the amount of Scottish Government Peatland Programme funding to PA (NatureScot) was £7.41m, out of the overall total of £10.75m provided to all delivery partners as part of Scottish Government peatland programme funding.

2021-22: the amount of Scottish Government Peatland Programme funding to PA (NatureScot) was £9.64m, out of the overall total of £15.58m provided to all delivery partners as part of Scottish Government peatland programme funding.

In the interests of transparency, we have provided the details of the funds that the Scottish Government have provided to NatureScot pursuant to the Scottish Government Peatland Programme. The Scottish Government does not hold information on the funding provided by PA (NatureScot) for individual restoration projects as a share of the overall value of those projects. You may wish to contact NatureScot directly using the email addressed set out below.

With respect to questions 2 and 3, we do not hold the information requested. Under the terms of the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs (information not held), the Scottish Government is not required to provide information which it does not have. The Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested because it is not responsible for collating the requested information.

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.While we recognise that there may be some public interest in information about your request, clearly we cannot provide information which we do not hold.

NatureScot has direct responsibility for the Peatland Action project, and would be able to provide some, if not all of the information you are seeking in regard to questions 2 and 3 above. Please contact the mailbox - peatlandaction@nature.scot. We also suggest you could contact Sally Blyth Sally.Blyth@nature.scot who leads the Peatland Action (NatureScot) Data and Evidence team if you require more information relating to your requests for information. Separately, more information and contact details can be found on NatureScot’s website found here: Peatland ACTION Project | NatureScot.

About FOI

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