Island Business Resilience Fund (IBRF): FOI release

Information requested

Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I am requesting the following information relating to the Island Business Resilience Fund (IBRF):

1. A breakdown of all applications received by island, including numbers approved, rejected, and still pending.

2. The average processing time between application submission and decision.

3. The full list of eligibility criteria used to assess applications.

4. Details of any internal complaints or concerns raised about delays or unfair allocation.

5. Any correspondence between ministers or officials discussing the fund’s public reception or coverage.

Response

An exemption(s) under section 27(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. 

The impacts of this policy have been assessed through an Island Communities Impact  Assessment.

This document is intended for publication within the next 12 weeks.

This exception is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. We recognise that there is some public interest in release in the interest of full disclosure under FOISA regulations. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in widespread publication of an accessible document

An exception under regulation Section 30(b) – free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views applies to some of the information you have requested.

This exception is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. We recognise that there is some public interest in release in the interest of full disclosure under FOISA regulations. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in ensuring the maintenance of free and frank exchanges of views in policymaking.

An exception under regulation Section 38 -the personal data of a third party (section 38(1)(b) applies to some of the information you have requested. This is not subject to the public interest test.

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.

FOI 202500475374 - Information Released - Annex

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