Funding for National Parent Forum of Scotland: FOI release

Information requested

Can you advise if and how much funding the Scottish government has paid to the National Parent Forum of Scotland for the financial years 2019/20 and 2020/21.

Can you also advise if this body is not registered as a charity why monies are paid and what scrutiny takes place from yourselves?

Response

Please find all of the information you requested.

Can you advise if and how much funding the Scottish government has paid to the National Parent Forum of Scotland for the financial years 2019/20 and 2020/21.

The Scottish Government paid a grant of £133,220.00 in two instalments of £66,610.00 over the course of the financial years 2019/20 and 2020/21. Each instalment was paid to Children in Scotland on behalf of the National Parent Forum of Scotland (NPFS).

The Scottish Government routinely publish all payments over £25,000.00 which can be found here - Government spend over £25,000: monthly reports - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Can you also advise if this body is not registered as a charity why monies are paid and what scrutiny takes place from yourselves?

The NPFS is not a registered charity in its own right. The NPFS is an unincorporated association that works in partnership with national and local government and other organisations involved in education and child wellbeing issues to ensure that parents play a full and equal role in national education policy. NPFS’s role and activity is funded by the Scottish Government but the Grant Agreement is between Scottish Government and Children in Scotland. NPFS is not a separate legal entity in its own right and has no company or registered charity status and as such it cannot agree contracts, make payments or employ staff directly.

A service level agreement between Children and Scotland and NPFS is in place . This specifies the services provided by Children in Scotland to the National Parent Forum of Scotland as part of the grant agreement between Scottish Government and Children in Scotland.

In relation to monitoring and scrutiny of the activities undertaken by the NPFS, the Scottish Government monitors the NPFS’s grant via twice yearly grant review meetings, end year reports and ongoing meetings during the course of the year. Financial information is provided and Children in Scotland take part in monitoring meetings.

A memorandum of understanding between Scottish Government and NPFS is also in place. This helps to maintain the NPFS’s independence and its discretion to provide impartial views on government policy.

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