Prestwick Airport – CEO and Asset Value: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
FOI reference: FOI/18/00432
Date received: 29 January 2018
Date responded: 16 March 2018
Information requested
a) Provide any relevant information and correspondence related to the departure of Prestwick Airport's CEO b) A calculation of how the Scottish government's investment into Prestwick Airport has increased the value of the airport's asset value?
Response
With regard to part A of your request, I enclose a copy of some of the information that you requested. We have also provided an extract document where it was more appropriate to extract the text within the scope of your request from other relevant documents we hold. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under sections s.30(b)(ii) Free and frank exchange of views or s.38(1)(b) Personal data relating to third party of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained below. Any information outwith the scope of your request has also been redacted.
In response to part B of your request, the Scottish Government's investment in Glasgow Prestwick Airport is on a commercial basis, in the form of loan funding. The Scottish Government does not have a calculation to determine how our investment in Prestwick Airport has increased the airport's asset value. Appropriate disclosures on the basis of asset valuation are recorded and reported in the annual accounts of Glasgow Prestwick Airport and are available at
http://www.glasgowprestwick.com/corporate/about-us/performance-and-reporting/
Reasons for not providing information
Exemptions under section s.30(b)(ii) of FOISA apply to some of the information you have requested as it involves free and frank discussions in relation to a matter involving a third party. 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. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because there is in an interest in the Senior Management Team at Glasgow Prestwick Airport. However, this is outweighed by the public interest that Scottish Government officials require a safe space to discuss issues around staffing at Public Bodies without these discussions being disclosed.
Exemptions under sections s.38(1)(b) of FOISA apply to some of the information you have requested as it relates to personal data. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.
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
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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