Information that we may withhold

Our aim in maintaining this publication scheme is to be as open as possible.  You should note, however, that there may be limited circumstances where information will be withheld from one of the classes of information listed in Publication Scheme: categories and classes 12.1 to 12.18.  Information will only be withheld, however, where FOISA (or in the case of environmental information, the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004) expressly permits it.

Information may be withheld, for example, where its disclosure would breach the law of confidentiality, harm and organisation's commercial interests, or endanger the protection of the environment. Information may also be withheld if it is another person's personal information, and its release would breach the data protection legislation.

Whenever information is withheld we will inform you of this, and will set out why the information cannot be released.  Even where information is withheld it may, in many cases, be possible to provide copies with the withheld information edited out.

If you wish to complain about any information which has been withheld from you, please refer to our section "Feedback and Complaints"