Affordable Housing Supply Programme: FOI release

Information requested

I have a couple of follow up questions in relation to my FOI that was recently responded to – reference number in the subject line.

1. You mention that there are ‘internal estimated projections of homes that can be supported with the funding identified to 2025-26’. However, you did not disclose these projections in your response to my FOI when you should have. I appreciate that I did ask for annual projections, but that was in addition to any and all internal projections or analysis regarding the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, not instead of. Therefore, please send me these internal estimated projects as soon as practically possible as this should have already been disclosed.
2. You say 11,570 homes have been delivered so far under the programme, with nine years to deliver the remaining 98,430 homes. Please confirm the timescale of when these 11,570 homes have been delivered since. Meaning, 11,570 homes have been delivered since what year?

 

 

Response

With regard to your first question, an exemption under section 30(c) of FOISA (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) applies to the information requested.

It is essential for officials be able to model a number of programme scenarios. Disclosing the content of those scenarios is likely to inhibit communications on these types of issue in the future as they could prejudice commercial activity in relation to costs and tendering. This would significantly harm the Government’s ability to carry out many aspects of its work, and could adversely affect its ability to gather all of the evidence it needs to make fully informed decisions.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.

We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in allowing officials a private space within which to model scenarios to assist the Scottish Government’s management of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme. This private space is essential to enable all options to be properly considered, so that good decisions can be taken based on fully informed advice and evidence and that there are no adverse commercial impacts.

With regard to your second question, a total of 11,570 affordable homes have been delivered between 23 March 2022 and 31 March 2023.

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.