Grant funding to British Red Cross June 2021: FOI release

Information requested

"Information relating to the award of a £250,000 grant to the British Red Cross in June 2021 for the provision of Hardship grants to destitute people, including those with NRPF conditions and in the asylum system. Specifically...:

1. If this grant was awarded through a competitive tender process or if not how the grant came to be awarded?

2. What consultation was done by the Scottish Government particularly in relation to other charity providers in the same area and where they contacted before a decision was made?

3. To request a copy of the British Red Cross proposal that resulted in the grant award?

4. To know if the British red Cross committed to partnership working and if Refugee Survival Trust was named as a partner or collaborator in their proposal?

5. Which Scottish Government Department and named person authorised/signed off this grant award?"

Response

1. The Scottish Government makes grants on behalf of Scottish Ministers, following the procedures outlined in the Scottish Public Finance Manual – available at:  https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottishpublic-finance-manual/grant-and-grant-in-aid/grant-and-grant-in-aid.

The award in question was not made through competitive tender. British Red Cross were awarded funds in November 2020 as part of the Winter Plan for Social Protection to top-up their pre-existing Hardship Fund and meet pandemic pressure. In practical terms, the June 2021 investment that your request relates to is a continuation of funding.

2. As noted at (1), this funding extends an existing grant relationship; no additional consultation was carried out with other charitable organisations in advance of this award being offered.

The original award was made available following discussions with officials in Wales and Northern Ireland, jurisdictions in which British Red Cross have a track record of delivering similar projects.

3. A copy of the relevant proposal is attached as requested.

An exemption(s) under section(s) s.38(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because one section of the original proposal contains third party personal data which cannot be disclosed under the Data Protection Act 2018 and as defined therein.

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.

4. Within the proposal as provided it is stated, "Targeted support is provided through the distribution of emergency cash, delivered in partnership with a broad range of statutory, non- statutory and third sector partners."

Refugee Survival Trust are neither specifically included nor excluded within the proposal or relevant grant.

5. This grant was awarded jointly from budgets within Scottish Government's Social Justice and Regeneration Division and Connected Communities Division and is managed by officials within these areas. The award was approved by the former Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, Aileen Campbell.

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 - 202100220749 - Information Released - Annex

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