Information on Abellio and ScotRail assessment and survey performance: FOI release

• Copies of Scotrail/ Abellio’s EFQM assessments for each of the years they have been carried out. The Scottish Government do not hold Abellio’s EFQM assessments, although I have included the certificate to certify that this has been carried out.
• Copies of the results of Scotrail Abellio’s employee satisfaction survey for each year it has been shared. Please find in my response of 23/10/2018 to your other Freedom Of Information request.
• Copies of all minutes and agendas for the Scotrail stakeholder advisory panel since the beginning of the franchise.Please find in document attached. We have withheld personal data relating to third parties under the FOISA exception s.38(1)(b).

Copies of the results of stakeholder perception surveys for Scotrail/ Abellio.

An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to all of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of Abellio ScotRail.

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 a public interest in disclosing information as part of open and transparent government, and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of Abellio ScotRail, to ensure that we are always able to obtain the best value for public money.