Proposed national infrastructure company correspondence: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for:

1. Regarding the proposed national infrastructure company as part of the National Infrastructure Mission:

a. Any internal briefings/memos;
b. Any correspondence between cabinet ministers; and
c. Any external correspondence to cabinet ministers.

2. How much is the chair of the infrastructure commission expected to be paid per annum when the position is filled?

Response

1. First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announced to SNP Conference in Glasgow, on 9 October, 2018 that consideration of a National Infrastructure Company as part of the National Infrastructure Mission would be within the remit of the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland.

Following that announcement we have on record one internal briefing document, dated 23 October 2018, which refers to the National Infrastructure Company (or SNIC) as part of the National Infrastructure Mission.   From that document, one paragraph is pertinent to your request and it is copied below.

“This points to the proposed Commission advising on the Infrastructure Mission during 2019, perhaps with interim principles or findings.  This would still permit Cabinet Secretaries to respond to advice in their areas and publish a coherent Government Infrastructure Investment Plan around the end of 2019-20 financial year.   The work might be phased, with the Infrastructure Mission and Investment Plan re-fresh advice taking approximately 12 months, potentially informing the next 3-year Spending Review, whereas the activity to consider delivery of infrastructure and potential options for the role of SNIC could follow in the 6 months thereafter.”

All internal briefing/memos thereafter refer to a national infrastructure company in the context of outlining the remit for the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland. The material used to describe this issue (which is common in all documents) is copied below.

“The Commission will report on infrastructure ambitions and priorities by the end of 2019, and will also advise on the possible creation of a Scottish National Infrastructure Company six months later.”

The Commission’s remit is publically available from the following website: https://infrastructurecommission.scot/.

Section 17(1) of FOISA (information not held) requires the Scottish Government to notify you if it does not have the information you requested.  The Scottish Government does not hold any correspondence between Cabinet Ministers or any external correspondence to Cabinet Ministers on the issue of the proposed national infrastructure company as part of the National Infrastructure Mission.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

2. Neither the Commissioners or The Chair of the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland are being paid a fee for their involvement. 

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