Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) funding: FOI release

Information requested

All information, notes, calculations and communications since 29 July 2024 that references how the Scottish Government determined its funding for the replacement benefit Pension Age Winter Heating Payment would be cut by up to £160 million.*

*The £160m figure has been taken from a Scottish Government press release, ‘UK Government decision ends universal fuel payments’, issued on 14 August 2024 at 10:52.

Response

I enclose a copy of the information you requested.

Some of the information you have requested is available from https://www.parliament.scot/chamberand-committees/questions-and-answers/question?ref=S6W-28925; and https://fiscalcommission.scot/publications/scotlands-economic-and-fiscal-forecasts-december-2023/.

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

If you want further information about how the Block Grant Adjustment is calculated and fiscal forecasts, then please contact His Majesty's Treasury at foirequests@hmtreasury.gov.uk; Department for Work and Pensions at freedom-of-information-request@dwp.gov.uk; and the Scottish Fiscal Commission at: info@fiscalcommission.scot who may be able to help you.

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(s) under section(s) s.17 (information not held by Scottish Government), s.25 (Information otherwise accessible) s.29(1)(a) (policy formulation), s.30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice), s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained below.

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 some public interest in release because of ongoing discussion and concern regarding eligibility for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in ongoing free and frank provision of advice between the Scottish Fiscal Commission and Scottish Government that is heavily dependent on information that is owned by the Scottish Fiscal Commission; information is held in briefings that touch upon wider subjects than the requested information.

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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.

FOI 202400426621 - Information released - Annex

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24 page PDF

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