DSA and NAS claims to SAAS: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/18/00761
Date received: 12 March 2018
Date responded: 26 March 2018

Information requested

1. The number of University of the West of Scotland (UWS) Disability Student Award (DSA) Students that had an application for support from a National Autistic Society (NAS) worker made on their claim for support to SAAS for the following years, regardless if they took up the support:

2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014

2. The number of NAS hours of support claimed by UWS DSA Students for the following years:

2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014

3. The hourly rate SAAS paid the UWS for a support worker/mentor in the financial years:

2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014

4. The hourly rate SAAS paid the UWS for a note-taker/scribe in the financial year:

2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014

5. The hourly rate SAAS paid the UWS for a proof reader in the financial years:

2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014

6. The administrative charge paid to UWS for administration in the financial years:

2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016 2014-2015
2013-2014

7. The monthly payments made to UWS for support workers/mentors over the academic years:

2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016

8. The monthly payments made to NAS for support workers over the academic years:

2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016

Response

Response to questions 1 and 2

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the costs of locating, retrieving and providing the information requested would exceed the upper cost limit of £600. The information requested is not routinely collated by SAAS. We have identified approximately 1200 applications for DSA from students attending the West of Scotland University between 2013/14-2017/18. To provide the data asked for in relation to questions, 1, 2 and 6 we would need to review all 1200 applications.

Under section 12 of FOISA public authorities are not required to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying would exceed the upper cost limit, which is currently set at £600 by Regulations made under section 12.

Response to questions 3, 4 and 5

We are unable to provide the information requested. There is no set hourly rate paid under Non-medical personal help (NMPH), as the rate paid will depend on individual circumstances and the level of support required. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

However, we can provide the hourly Min and Max rate paid where students employ a non-medical helper themselves. This information is attached to this response. It can be found on our website at http://www.saas.gov.uk/forms_and_guides/dsa.htm

Response to question 6

We are unable to provide this information; we do not hold this information as standard in regards to the Disabled Student Allowance. Administration costs are not required to be specifically detailed in invoices. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

You may be able to get this information from the University of the West of Scotland.

Response to questions 7 & 8

We are unable to provide this information; this is because the invoices submitted in relation to Disabled Student Allowance do not include a breakdown of individual costs but just overall payment.

We could provide a general amount paid to University of the West of Scotland and the National Autistic Society for support workers/mentors but this would require a manual review of records and the costs of locating, retrieving and providing the information requested would exceed the upper cost limit of £600.

You may be able to get this information from the University of the West of Scotland and the National Autistic Society.

In this instance under FoI, I cannot provide any specific advice on how you could reduce the scope of your enquiry so that the information requested would not exceed the upper cost limit of £600.

Although, we are unable to provide the information requested. If you would like to discuss the background to your request with us, we might have other data that could be relevant to your request.

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

FoI-18-00761 - SAAS DSA NMPH Guide.pdf

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27 page PDF

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