Funding allocated to local authorities for social care: FOI release

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.


FOI reference: FOI/18/01029
Date received: 29 March 2018
Date responded: 27 April 2018

Information requested

Information regarding a number of cash funds from the Scottish Government:

  • Social Welfare Fund announced by Nicola Sturgeon in 2012

  • Islands Housing Fund running till 2021

  • Rare Medicines Fund in 2013-2015

  • NHS performance Fund, announced by John Swinney to cut NHS waiting times

  • Employability Fund announced by Angela Constance

You wished to know how much these funds cost, if the fund is on-going (or has ceased) and who received the cash directly i.e, groups, charities, private companies.

Response

1. The information you have requested, regarding the Scottish Welfare Fund, is available on the Scottish Government website. Information on the website includes the Statutory Guidance, monthly and quarterly statistical information and budget allocations.

You can find this information here:

/policies/social-security/income-related-benefits/

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.

2. The answers to some of your questions are

a) Islands Housing Fund

The Islands Housing Fund was announced on 12 September 2016 and the Fund is a total of £5 million. The fund is on-going and available until 31 March 2021.

As at 31 March 2018, £257,958 has been awarded. Awards were made to a Local Authority, community trusts and development trusts.

b) Rare Medicine Fund (New Medicines Fund) – 2013-2015

The Rare Conditions Medicine Fund was set up in March 2013, and was expanded and replaced in October 2014 by the New Medicines Fund. The Fund is on-going.

The New Medicines Fund is financed by Scotland's share of the rebate paid to the UK Government by the pharmaceutical industry via the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS).

In terms of funding, £20 million was provided in 2013/14 and £40 million was provided in 2014/15. Funds are apportioned to each Health Board to fund the cost of medicines for patients with rare diseases. Clinicians will request the medicine on behalf of their patient and, if the request if approved, the medicine will be funded by the Health Board.

c) NHS Performance Fund

The Health and Social Care Budget includes a £14.5m Performance Fund which is issued to NHS Boards each year on a targeted basis to improve waiting times performance in pressure areas. The £14.5m continues in 2018/19.

3. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in respect of the Employability Fund this is delivered on the Scottish Government's behalf by Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. However, as per the email to you of 4/4/18 you may wish to contact Skills Development Scotland directly at foi@sds.co.uk who will take forward your request. The reasons why we don't have the information are explained below.

Reasons for not providing information

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because the delivery of the Employability Fund is managed by Skills Development Scotland and they have the information you are looking for.

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

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

Contact

Please quote the FOI reference

Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000

The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

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