Publication - FOI/EIR release

Split payments of Universal Credit: Discussions with DWP: FOI release

Published: 17 May 2018
Directorate: Social Security Directorate
Topic: Public sector

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

FOI reference: FOI/18/01004, FOI/18/01005 and FOI/18/01006
Date received: 29 March 2018
Date responded: 27 April 2018

Information requested

The list of the meetings or diarised discussions with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) (to and from) regarding split payments of Universal Credit (UC); the list of topics to be considered at those meetings; and the correspondence between the Scottish Government and the DWP to arrange those meetings, up to and including January 2017.

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. The reasons why we don't have the information are explained below.

Although not within the scope of your requests dated 29 March 2018, I have decided to release information on a recent meeting which took place between the Scottish Government and DWP officials, where split payments of the UC award between members of the household was the primary focus of discussion. This meeting took place on 13 April 2018. I also enclose, in pdf format, the agenda for that meeting and the correspondence with the DWP to arrange that meeting.

Reasons for not providing information

While split payments of the Universal Credit award has been discussed during a number of meetings and teleconferences with the DWP, it has been one, among a range of issues, and not the primary focus of the discussions. A meeting dedicated solely to the discussion of split payments took place on 13 April 2018, as referenced above.

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