Correspondence regarding the Scottish Child Payment: FOI release

Information requested

Supply all briefings written, analysis written for or by the Scottish Government, all correspondence received and sent by the government, including internally, minutes/notes from meetings, regarding increasing the Scottish Child Payment, between September 1 2024 and October 1 2024?

Response

I enclose a copy of the information you requested.

Some of the information you have requested is available from:

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/john-swinney-urged-back-40-33588937;  

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8nx3zdp4eo;https://www.gov.scot/publications/multi-criteriadecision-analysis-approach-up-rating-devolved-social-security-assistance-january-2024/pages/1/; 

https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/asset-storage/production/downloads/Social-Security-Scotland-Scottish-Child-Payment-Statistics-to-31-March-2024-Publication-53303282712.pdf;

https://www.povertyalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Poverty-Alliance-Briefing-for-the-Debateon-the-Scottish-Governments-2024-25-Programme-for-Government-September-2024.pdf; 

https://www.barnardos.org.uk/news/barnardos-reveals-grim-reality-child-poverty.

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.

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 sections: 29 (Formulation of Scottish Administration Policy); 30(b)(i) (Free and Frank provision of advice); 38 (Personal Information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

Exemptions under 30(b)(i) are 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 the difficult economic environment that families are facing. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in high quality policy and decision-making, and in the properly considered implementation and development of policies and decisions. This means that Ministers and officials need to be able to consider all available options and to debate those rigorously, to fully understand their possible implications. Their candour in doing so will be affected by their assessment of whether discussions will be disclosed in the near future, when it may undermine or constrain the 
Government’s view on that policy while it is still under discussion and development.

About FOI

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

FOI - 202400436165 - Information released - Annex A

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