Funding received to support businesses: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for the following information:

Specifically with regards to the additional £700 million that has been received to support businesses, I would like to initiate a Freedom of Information Request to understand:

• How much has been physically paid out to businesses to date?
• How much has been allocated but not yet paid out?
• What is the breakdown, by business sector, of where the funds have been allocated?
• How much of the £700 million has neither been paid out nor allocated?
• What timeline has the Scottish Government established for distributing the remainder of this funding that has not yet been paid out?

I recognise that this situation will be evolving, so it is perhaps easier to give a snapshot as of a particular date – say 31st October 2020.

Response

As at 31 October 2020 the UK Government had indicated that it would allocate just over £7.2 billion of additional funding to the Scottish Government in respect of the Covid pandemic. This incorporated £700 million of funding announced in October and, at that point, represented all consequential support available to March 31st 2021. This funding was not just for business support but covered all Covid pressures including support for public health initiatives and support for transport as well as support for business. Details of the allocation of funding for the response to the Covid-19 emergency will be set in the Spring budget revision later in this financial year.

Taking each of your questions in turn:

How much has been physically paid out to businesses to date?

We will be publishing information on Closure and hardships Funds for the period of 9 Oct – 2 Nov on the Scottish Government website in due course once the data has been received, processed and validated. Support for businesses from 2nd November 2020 under the Strategic Framework will also be published on the Scottish Government website when available.

How much has been allocated but not yet paid out?

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because the support is distributed through a variety of different funds, and mechanisms (including through local authorities and public bodies, as well as central government), with reference to the most appropriate delivery method.

Reconciliation will take place in due course. The Scottish Government is working with businesses and our partners in local government to ensure we understand how best to support affected businesses. Details on the ongoing allocation of funding for the response to the Covid-19 emergency will be set in the Spring budget revision later in this financial year.

What is the breakdown, by business sector, of where the funds have been allocated?

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because details on the ongoing allocation of funding for the response to the Covid-19 emergency will be set in the Spring budget revision later in this financial year.

How much of the £700 million has neither been paid out nor allocated?

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because details on the ongoing allocation of funding for the response to the Covid-19 emergency will be set in the Spring budget revision later in this financial year.

What timeline has the Scottish Government established for distributing the remainder of this funding that has not yet been paid out?

The Strategic Framework on 23 October, sets out the Scottish Government’s new package of support for businesses that must close by law or operate in a restricted way as a result of public health decisions. This can be accessed on the Scottish Government website. The new package of grant support set out in the Strategic Framework will be available for every 4 week period of restrictions.

Further information on support available to businesses can be found at http://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under section 17(1) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption applies are explained above.

You may also wish to consider contacting your local authority for further information on the business support that they administer.

About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.