Digital Poverty Funding: FOI release

Information requested

I would like to request the following information regarding Scottish Government funding to tackle digital poverty:

1. The amount of Scottish Government funding allocated and spent on tackling digital poverty in the school academic years 2022/23 and 2023/24.

2. Confirmation that there will be Scottish Government funding to tackle digital poverty for the academic year 2024/25.

I am specifically asking request this because it was said in the 2021 SNP manifesto that there would be and I quote “5 million per year to provide support to students” going to universities and colleges.

3. A copy of the latest correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council regarding digital poverty funding.

4. A copy of the latest correspondence between the Scottish Government and SCVO regarding Digital Poverty Funding.

5. The latest piece of internal Scottish Government correspondence that mentions Digital Poverty Funding.

A note: digital poverty was said in snp manifesto to be “lack of electronic devices and connectivity”.

Another Note: it’s public money and a manifesto commitment to combat poverty so it’s very much in the interest of everyone for my requests to be granted and made transparent.

Response

Question 1

The answer to your question is that the budget for 2022/23 confirmed £5 million worth of capital investment for Digital Inclusion. This was distributed as £2.9 million for colleges and £1.9 million for universities via the Scottish Funding Council and £500,000 for community learning providers via the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. The budget for FY 23/24 announced in December 22 confirmed a further £5 million capital investment for Digital Inclusion.

Question 2

The answer to your question is that, as a result of budget pressures and the financial position, we were unable to provide a specific allocation in the 2024-25 SFC capital budget for Digital Inclusion, as in previous years. However, we continue to work with our delivery partners on translating the 2024-25 budget into delivery plans, priorities and investments and consideration will be given as to how learners can continue to be supported.

From a schools perspective, in 2024/25, we will invest £10 million capital in targeted device and connectivity provision for our most disadvantaged households with children. This will bring a range of benefits for families struggling with the cost of living crisis while also tackling digital exclusion amongst our most deprived learners. Providing devices at a household level will enable access not only to digital tools and resources for learning but digital society and online public services; expanding the impact of this investment beyond learners to their wider families.

Question 3

I enclose a copy of the information you requested. (see marked up copy below). Please note that, as per your request for a copy of the most recent piece of correspondence for the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council regarding digital poverty funding, I have redacted other emails in this chain as being outwith scope.

Question 4

I enclose a copy of the information you requested. (see marked up copy below). Please note that, as per your request for a copy of the latest correspondence between the Scottish Government and COSLA, corrected to SCVO, regarding Digital Poverty Funding, I have redacted other emails in this chain as being outwith scope.

Question 5

I enclose a copy of the information you requested. (see marked up copy below).

Redactions

Please note that we have redacted some names from the information provided for questions 3, 4 and 5 - which we have done under Section 38 of FOI(S)A.

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 202400394387 - Information Released - Annex

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5 page PDF

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148.4 kB