On 28 January, we wrote:
Dear VisitScotland,
Please provide information showing how Shetland is part of Scotland.
Yours faithfully,
The Sovereign Nation of Shetland
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On 28 January 2025, they sent an acknowledgement:
Thank you for your enquiry which has been received into our Freedom of Information request inbox.
As per statutory requirements, we will respond to a Freedom of Information request within 20 working days.
With kind regards,
VisitScotland FOI Team
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On 25 February 2025, they wrote:
The information you have requested is exempt from disclosure under section 25(1) of The Act as we do not have to give you information where that information is already reasonably accessible to you.
As previously stated in correspondence with “the Sovereign Nation of Shetland,” the Shetland Islands have been part of Scotland for over 540 years, since 1470. Shetland’s position was, as a matter of law, supported by the Court of Session in 2012 in the case of The Royal Bank of Scotland v Stuart Hill, where it is set out that it is regarded as a matter of settled law that Shetland forms part of Scotland and the United Kingdom and the reasons why.
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On 27 February 2025, we wrote:
Thank you for your response dated 25 February 2025.
As far as we are aware, there is no public source able to show definitively that Shetland is part of Scotland, as shown by the results of our FOIs at our site www.ourfois.com.
The erroneous historical facts that both you and Lord Pentland rely upon are dealt with in Stuart Hill's book Stolen Isles.
Lord Pentland's Opinion in The Royal Bank of Scotland v Stuart Hill is stated thus:
"[26] In my opinion, as these statements in the Inner House clearly show, it is now settled that, as a matter of law, Shetland is part of the United Kingdom. The British Crown has the right to exercise sovereignty over the islands. Scots Law applies there and the Scottish courts have territorial jurisdiction there. In the circumstances, I have no difficulty in holding that this court has jurisdiction over the defender in the present action."
His opinion is dependent on the British Crown having the right to exercise sovereignty in Shetland. This is clearly flawed if the British Crown has no right of sovereignty in Shetland.
We will close this request on the basis that you do not hold the information, but please expect a new request asking for information showing how the Crown has sovereignty in Shetland. This new request is not to be treated as being the same as this request - one is dependent upon the other. It is not unreasonable for us to expect you to be able to show proof of facts which determine your ability to operate in Shetland.
Regards
The Sovereign Nation of Shetland
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This request is now closed because VisitScotland does not have the information.
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