Debt advice levy funding 2020/2021: FOI release

Information requested

(i) "...how much from the fund devolved to the ScottishGovernment from the Financial Conduct Authority Debt Advice Kevy [Levy] has been given to Advice UK for this financial year (20-21) and for what purpose.";

(ii) "...what other sums have been given to other organisations including the Scottish Legal Aid Board and for what purpose.";

(iii) "...information on any procurement process used."

Response

(i) As of 30 August 2020, no payment had been made from the ScottishGovernment to AdviceUK using the debt advice levy in the financial year 2020-21.

(ii) The table below outlines recipients of funding from the debt advice levy in the financial year 2020- 21, the purpose of this funding, and how much, as of 30 August 2020. This information will be published at the end of the financial year including all recipients at https://www.gov.scot/groups/tackling-problem-debt-group/

Organisation	Activity	Amount
Advice Direct Scotland	Pilot project for a cloud-based platform enabling better integrated client journeys	£125,000
Improvement Service	Projects on levy allocation models, Common Advice Reporting Framework and Funders’ Framework	£32,625
StepChange (Foundation for Credit Counselling)	Project to increase debt advice provision, with a focus on vulnerable clients	£331,700
StepChange (Foundation for Credit Counselling)	Telephone debt advice	£140,150
Total		£629,475

(iii) The ScottishGovernment makes grants on behalf of Scottish Ministers, following the procedures outlined in the Scottish Public Finance Manual – available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-public-finance-manual/grant-and-grant-in-aid/grant-andgrant-in-aid/

About FOI

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