Social Security Scotland information system – cost, development and contractor details: FOI release

Information requested

 

You asked:

1.     Does a detailed specification exist for the Information system?
2.     What is the estimated cost
3.     What is the development schedule?
4.     Is it an in-house development or contracted out?
5.     If contracted out who is the contractor
6.     Is it a fixed price or open ended contract?

 

Response

 

I will respond to your questions in turn. Some of the information you have requested is available from various websites that I have detailed below. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.  

1. Does a detailed specification exist for the Information system?

A detailed specification does exist and has been previously released. Here is the link to it:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-18-01964-review/

2. What is the estimated cost?

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because an exemption under section 27(1) of FOISA applies to that information.  The reasons why that exemption applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

3. What is the development schedule?

This information can be found at this link:

https://www.gov.scot/news/delivery-of-disability-assistance-to-start-in-2020/ 

4. Is it an in-house development or contracted out?  

and

5. If contracted out who is the contractor?

It is contracted out to IBM UK which is required to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team drawing in internal SG resource throughout the contract to ensure full immersion in the project and to allow for knowledge transfer.

6. Is it a fixed price or open ended contract?

This information can be found at the following link, specifically, section 11 (Pricing Strategy) on page 22:

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/foi-eir-release/2018/11/foi-18-01964-review/documents/foi-18-01964---related-documents-part-2/foi-18-01964---related-documents-part-2/govscot%3Adocument

 

ANNEX

REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

I have detailed below the reasons for not providing the information you have requested.

An exemption applies

An exemption(s) under section(s) s.25 (1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.  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.

This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

An exemption applies, subject to the public interest test

Section 27(1) – information intended for future publication

An exemption under section 27(1) of FOISA applies to the information requested because we intend to publish that information within 12 weeks of the date of your request.  We consider that it is reasonable to withhold the information until that date, rather than release some of this information before the planned publication date.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.  We recognise that there is some public interest in release because there will be interest in how government money is used to implement the Social Security Scotland system and this will be met by our planned publication.  In the meantime, there is a greater public interest in taking the time necessary to ensure the information has been properly collated and checked before it is published as planned.  Also, we see no public interest in disrupting our programme of work to release the information ahead of the intended publication date.

 

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.