Transfer title for the north side of Abbey Strand: FOI release

Information requested

Information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 regarding the title to buildings on Abbey Strand adjacent to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.

This relates to the recent decision to transfer title for the north side of Abbey Strand, sometimes given as numbers 1 to 11 Abbey Strand, from Scottish ministers, as successors to the Commissioners of HM Works and Public Buildings, to the Queen, on or around January 2020.

The Register of Sasines records that on 25 May 1934 in the County of Midlothian, title for those properties on Abbey Strand was passed by the Earl of Rosebery and Midlothian to the Commissioner of HM Works and Public Buildings.

Please provide all information held by Scottish ministers which relate to changes to the apparent ownership of those properties, specifically:

a) all communications between Scottish ministers and the Royal Household and/or its representatives regarding the transfer of ownership of Abbey Strand, both before and after the Queen's registration of ownership was recorded in January 2020

b) all communications between Historic Environment Scotland officials and all other Scottish government officials outwith HES regarding the transfer of ownership to the Queen, before and after that updated registration in January 2020

Response

Regarding part A of your request, whilst there is a Property in Care at 23 Abbey Strand called Holyrood Abbey, the Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for. There are no communications between Scottish Ministers and the Royal Household and/or its representatives regarding the transfer of ownership of the north side of Abbey Strand or 1 to 11 Abbey Strand, as you mentioned in your request, both before and after the Queen's registration of ownership was recorded in January 2020.

Regarding part B of your request, we understand Historic Environment Scotland was neither consulted nor involved in the land registration of 1 to 11 Abbey Strand. Therefore, there are no communications between Historic Environment Scotland officials and all other Scottish government officials outwith HES regarding the transfer of ownership to the Queen, before and after that updated registration in January 2020.

Please be advised that the Royal Household is not a public authority within the meaning of the FOI Acts and is therefore exempt from their provisions. However, we understand its policy is to provide information as freely as possible in other areas. More information on FOI and the Royal Household, including contact information, can be found on the following webpage: https://www.royal.uk/freedominformation

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have 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 http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.