The Scottish Violence Reduction Unit funding: FOI release

Information requested

Appearing on BBC Radio Scotland’s Lunchtime Live programme on 28th May 2025, Jimmy Paul, the Head of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, was asked whether the Scottish Government had cut the funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit. He said: “So it’s a 3% cut in funding, which amounts to a little over £30,000. Yes, that’s right.”

Please provide the following information:

(1.) Was Jimmy Paul’s statement true or false?

(2.) If it was false, please provide the documentary evidence which demonstrates that it was false. This information should relate specifically to Scottish Government funding of the SVRU, and exclude any information not directly relevant to the question.

Response

As is normal, the reduced allocation originally provided to the SVRU as part of the budget process for 2025/26 was indicative as demonstrated in the information released in a previous FOI request, which you can find a link to here. The figure Jimmy Paul referred to on 28 May would therefore have been merely indicative. However, in the process of finalising the allocation, Ministers took the decision to increase the grant award by 4% on last year’s amount in recognition of the importance of the work, particularly in targeting young people.

The information you have requested regarding documentation of the amount offered to the SVRU is available from FOI 202500468564 which has been released alongside this one. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.