Publication - FOI/EIR release

Funding of One Workplace Equal Rights: FOI release

Published: 21 November 2018
Topic: Public sector

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

FOI reference: FOI/18/02777
Date received: 20 September 2018
Date responded: 31 October 2018

Information requested

You asked us to provide all communications (including attachments in emails) to and from the STUC on the funding of One Workplace Equal Rights in calendar years 2014 and 2015.

Response

I have provided most of the information you have requested, as per the table below:

Document Number	Description	Comments
1	Email from STUC to SG Equality Policy, 5 August 2014.	Personal/Sensitive information redacted.
1a	Attachment re Document 1 - Copy of Finance Template 2014-2015	Personal/Sensitive information redacted.
1b	Attachment re Document 1 - Grant Claim Form Jul-Sept 2014	Personal/Sensitive information redacted.
2	Email from STUC to SG Equality Policy, 11 November 2014.	Personal/Sensitive information redacted.
2a	Attachment re Document 2 - Copy of Finance Template 2014-2015	Personal/Sensitive information redacted.
2b	Attachment re Document 2 - Grant Claim Form Oct-Dec 2014.	Personal/Sensitive information redacted.
3	Email from STUC to SG Equality Policy, 19 December 2014.	Personal/Sensitive information redacted.
3a	Attachment re Document 3 - STUC Financial Statement 2014
3b	Attachment re Document 3 - STUC General Council Report
3c	Attachment re Document 3 – STUC Constitution June 2012
3d	Attachment re Document 3 –SG Budget Draft	Personal/Sensitive information redacted.
3e	Attachment re Document 3 – STUC 2015-16 Funding Application Form	Exemption applies. Document not released, please see below.
4	Email from STUC to SG Equality Policy, 6th January 2015.	Personal/Sensitive information redacted.
4a	Attachment Re. Document 4 - SG Budget Final 2.	Personal/Sensitive information redacted.
4b	Attachment Re. Document 4 - SG Grant Application Form Final 2.	Exemption applies. Document not released, please see below.
5	Email from STUC to SG Equality Policy, 13 February 2015.	Personal/Sensitive information redacted
5a	Attachment Re. Document 5 – Progress Report Apr-Oct 2014	Personal/Sensitive information redacted
5b	Attachment Re. Document 5 – Copy of Finance Template 2014-2015	Personal/Sensitive information redacted
6	Email between SG colleagues of 22 February 2015 which forwards reply email from SG Equality Policy to STUC, 6 January 2015	Personal/Sensitive information redacted
7	Email from SG Equality Policy to STUC, 19 March 2015	Personal/Sensitive information redacted.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, the Scottish Government is unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption s33 (1) (b) of FOISA applies with respect to documents 3e and 4b. The reasons why this exemption applies are explained below.

Reasons for not providing information

An exemption applies.

With regard to the grant application form attached to two emails and referenced in the table above as documents 3e and 4b, an exemption under section 33 (1) (b) of FOISA applies. This is because information provided by successful or unsuccessful applicants contains information that would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the confidentiality of commercial information provided by applicants and thus cause substantial harm to their commercial interests. Disclosing this information would be likely to give other funding applicants an advantage in future funding rounds.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. The Scottish Government have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is public interest in disclosing the information as part of our role as an open and transparent government, and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of the organisations that applied for funding, to ensure that the Scottish Government is always able to obtain the best value for public money.

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