Freedom of Information Team
Department of Health and Social Care www.gov.uk/dhsc
39 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0EU
Mrs Ruth Sutherland
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
1 July 2021
Dear Mrs Sutherland,
Freedom of Information Request Reference FOI-1335452
Thank you for your request dated 6 June, in which you asked the Department of Health and Social
Care (DHSC):
“1. A copy of the site risk assessment for the symptomatic Covid 19 test site in Ramsay Croft Car
Park, Dalkeith, Scotland.
2. A copy of the site selection criteria for Covid 19 Test sites issued by the UK Department of
Health and Social Care issued to Scottish Local Authorities in February 2021.
3. The daily number of symptomatic patients attending appointments at the Covid 19 test site in
Ramsay Croft Car Park, Dalkeith, since 21 May 2021 to date.”
Your request has been handled under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
1. A copy of the site risk assessment for the symptomatic Covid 19 test site in Ramsay Croft
Car Park, Dalkeith, Scotland.
2. A copy of the site selection criteria for Covid 19 Test sites issued by the UK Department
of Health and Social Care issued to Scottish Local Authorities in February 2021.
DHSC holds information relevant to your request. However, it is being withheld under section 43,
which exempts from the general duty to release information which would, or would be likely to,
prejudice the commercial interests of any entity, including the public authority holding the
information.
Section 43 is a qualified exemption and, as such, we are required to assess the public interest in
withholding this information against that of its release. We recognise a general public interest in
transparency of Government, particularly surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, as this builds
public trust.
However, we also take into account the fact that this information is commercially sensitive, and we
consider that releasing this information would not be in the public interest, as it would prejudice
future commercial relations with suppliers if this information were to be disclosed into the public
domain. Therefore, we consider that the balance of interest favours withholding this information.
3. The daily number of symptomatic patients attending appointments at the Covid 19 test
site in Ramsay Croft Car Park, Dalkeith, since 21 May 2021 to date.
DHSC holds information relevant to your request. Please see the attached file for more details.
Please note that testing sites do not distinguish between symptomatic and asymptomatic
attendees at test sites when recording this information.
If you are not satisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to appeal by asking for
an internal review. This should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter and sent to
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx, or to the address at the top of this letter.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communication.
If you are not content with the outcome of your internal review, you may complain directly to the
ICO. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have already appealed our original
response and received our internal review decision. You should raise your concerns with the ICO
within three months of your last meaningful contact with us.
The ICO can be contacted at:
The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
https://ico.org.uk/concerns/ Yours sincerely,
Piper Hewitt-Dudding
Freedom of Information Officer
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx