Climate change fund for developing countries: FOI release

Information requested

In relation to the following article https://www.itv.com/news/2021-11-01/nicola-sturgeon-pledges-1m-fund-for-climate-loss-and-damage

1. How many staff will manage this fund?

2. What are the running costs for staff?

3. Did the Scottish Government have any discussions with FCDO? If so can you provide the documents?

4. Has the Scottish Government obtained any legal advice into whether this is legal or not as international aid is a reserved natter for the UK Government rather than a matter for the Scottish Government?

Response

The answer to your first question is the partnership with the Climate Justice Resilience Fund and associated grant will be managed within the existing resourcing structure for the International Climate Change Policy Team of the Scottish Government. The team has five full-time equivalent (FTE) and one part-time equivalent (PTE) members of staff at a range of civil service grades who oversee and support Climate Justice Fund grants, as well as delivering broader international climate policy work.

The answer to your second question is that, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. The Scottish Government does not have information about the running costs for staff in relation to the management of this fund because work is undertaken as part of the wider duties of staff within the International Climate Change Policy Team. The Scottish Government does not have any business need to record the proportion of time that members of staff devote to specific aspects of their duties, and so it does not hold the information required to answer your question.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested.

The answer to your third question is no, the Scottish Government did not have any discussion with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in relation to the partnership with the Climate Justice Resilience Fund.

The answer to your fourth question is yes, the Scottish Government obtained legal advice that it has the ability to issue a grant to the Climate Justice Resilience Fund.

About FOI
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