FOI and records
A large part of TSNS work has not been “argument”. It has been record-building.
This page explains how TSNS has used FOI and document requests to build a clean public record — and why “information not held” responses are sometimes as important as disclosures.
What TSNS actually did
TSNS repeatedly requested the documentary basis for key claims of authority — particularly where authority is said to rest on land or seabed title.
This was done through FOI and other formal requests to public bodies. The aim was not to “catch anyone out”. The aim was to discover what was actually recorded, what could be produced, and what was missing from the official record.
1) FOI as a record-building tool
TSNS treated FOI as a way to build an evidence trail. Rather than asking broad political questions, requests were framed around documents: minutes, reports, approvals, contracts, and correspondence.
2) The importance of “not held”
Many responses did not supply the sought documents. Instead, authorities responded that the information was “not held”. That response matters because it clarifies what is absent from the official record.
3) Building decision trails
TSNS focused on decision-trails rather than debate: who authorised a decision, on what basis, what documents were relied upon, and what costs were approved. This approach produces clarity without heat.
4) Approved cost and accountability
Where public money was involved, TSNS requested the approved cost and, where available, the final cost. This is one of the simplest ways to bring accountability into view without political argument.
5) The method stayed calm
Requests were bounded by date ranges and defined document types. The approach was: narrow, testable, and repeatable. This reduced refusals and made outcomes easier to log.
6) The result: a public index
TSNS did not merely collect documents. It indexed what was received, what was redacted, what was refused, and what was declared “not held” — allowing the public to see the shape of the record as a whole.
What this approach reveals
In many areas, the issue is not that “the truth is hidden”. The issue is that the documentary foundation people assume exists is often thin, scattered, or missing.
This matters because modern authority is exercised through paper: licences, leases, consents, enforcement, contracts, and procurement. When the paper trail is unclear, the public cannot easily audit decisions — and trust declines.
Why this matters for Shetland’s future
As Shetland faces irreversible decisions about seabed use, offshore wind, interconnectors, and industrial infrastructure, the quality of the public record becomes more important, not less.
TSNS record-building work exists so that the public can ask better questions, and so that claims of authority can be tested against evidence rather than presumption.
Where the record is held
The TSNS Evidence Library indexes documents and responses (metadata rather than PDFs). Shetland First links to it rather than maintaining a separate evidence store.