Social Security Scotland - financial reviews: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for: a) Full details (any reports and/or briefings and/or correspondence and/or otherwise) of any and all financial reviews that have been underlaken to analyse the cost of the delivery/implementation of the devolved benefits by Social Security Scotland and b) details of when these reviews took place.

Response

Whilst our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested. This is due to no financial reviews having been undertaken to analyse the cost of the delivery and implementation of the devolved benefits at this time. Section 17(1) of FOISA (information not held) requires the Scottish Government to notify you if it does not have the information you requested.

You may be interested to know that the Social Security programme level business case is currently being reviewed. This will be finalised shortly and an update of costs will be provided to Parliament in due course.

At a recent Social Security Committee session, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People updated members that an independent review of the finance team within Social Security is underway. An official report of that committee session can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12090&mode=pdf

This finance review aims to ensure arrangements and processes are fit for purpose as the Social Security programme and Social Security Scotland grow. Further information of this review is also documented in the recently published Audit Scotland report, which can be found at: http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/report/social-security-implementing-the-devolved-powers

The review mentioned above is not undertaking an analyse of the costs for the delivery and implementation of the devolved benefits.

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.