Scottish Government's capital borrowing: FOI release

Information requested

• I understand the Scottish Government is able to borrow from the National Loans Fund, from banks on commercial terms or through issuing bonds. Can I please receive a breakdown for how much was borrowed from each of these for each of the last five financial years; and at what interest rate?
• Can you please release all relevant evaluation documents regarding the decision as to which one of these three were used, again for each of the last five financial years? I note in an earlier FOI response from 2017 that the Scottish Government were "evaluating these options for borrowing and will in due course take a responsible decision on which method or methods to use based on the prevailing economic conditions."

Response

I enclose a link to the Scottish Government’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy published on 28 January 2021 where you will find the answer to the first bullet of your request. The relevant information on Capital Borrowing can be found in Section 5.1.3 on page 56 of the document and at page 110 of Annex C within the link. 

Scotland's Fiscal Outlook: The Scottish Government's Medium-Term Financial Strategy - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

I have been able to provide some of the information you requested in the second bullet of your request and you will find this tabled at Annex A.

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 exemptions under sections s.29(1)(a) the formulation or development of government policy and s.30(b)(i) free and frank provision of advice of FOISA applies to that information.

The reasons why the exemptions applies are explained in the Annex B.

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.

FOI - 202100140004 - Annex A & B

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6 page PDF

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83.6 kB