Correspondence regarding the full devolved benefit case transfer: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
Copies of any internal correspondence (emails, texts, minutes of calls, minutes of meetings, briefings and/or otherwise) regarding the expected new date (month and/or year) for the full devolved benefit case transfer between the Department of Work and Pensions and the Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville.
Response
All correspondence between Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville and Department for Work and Pensions consists of formal signed letters sent in electronic format. The Social Security Directorate maintains a record of such correspondence. In response to your request, a review of that record identified four items of correspondence that contained information that was the within scope of your request:
1. Letter dated 23 March 2020 from Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville to Therese Coffey, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
2. Letter dated 30 March 2020 from Justin Tomlinson, Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work
3. Letter dated 2 April 2020 from Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville to Justin Tomlinson, Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work
4. Letter dated 17 April 2020 from Justin Tomlinson, Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work to Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville
The relevant extracts have been included within annex A to this letter. The remaining information in the abovementioned falls out with the scope of your request as it does not relate to the full devolved benefit case transfer.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because the correspondence contains information which relates to policy development. We have applied exemptions under section 29(1)(a) formulation or development of Scottish Government policy, to this information. The reasons why those exemptions apply are explained in the Annex attached.
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.
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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