Care Reform Programme costs and options: FOI release

Information requested

The following information covering 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025:

i) A spend ledger for the National Care Service / Care Reform programme (2022/23–2024/25) showing consultancy, contractor, communications, digital/build and staff costs, including purchase orders and change notes.

ii) Option appraisal papers and risk registers comparing the full National Care Service with the scaled Care Reform Bill.

iii) Correspondence and minutes of meetings with COSLA/HSCPs concerning governance, powers, and financial transfers relating to the National Care Service/Reform programme between 1 August 2024 and 31 July 2025.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested Annexes A, B and C.

Taking each of your questions in turn:

i) A spend ledger for the National Care Service / Care Reform programme (2022/23–2024/25) showing consultancy, contractor, communications, digital/build and staff costs, including purchase orders and change notes.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, information has not been provided as to do so would exceed the cost would exceed the upper cost limit of £600. This is because the data requested comprises over 10,229 individual spend lines relating to the National Care Service. Many of these entries contain personal information, which would require a line-by-line review and redaction to ensure compliance with data protection obligations.

Under section 12(1) of FOISA, public authorities are not required to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of doing so would exceed the prescribed limit. In this case, the volume and sensitivity of the data mean that the cost of compliance would significantly exceed the £600 threshold.

In line with section 15(1) of FOISA, which requires public authorities to provide advice and assistance where reasonable, we recommend that you consider narrowing the scope of your request.

ii) Options appraisal papers and risk registers comparing the full National Care Service with the scaled Care Reform Bill. In response to this request please see options appraisal information provided in Annex A. Regarding the second part of this question the Scottish Government does not hold the information in the format requested “risk registers comparing the full National Care Service with the scaled Care Reform Bill.” As such, I hereby provide you with formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

iii) Correspondence and minutes of meetings with COSLA/HSCPs concerning governance, powers, and financial transfers relating to the National Care Service/Reform programme. Following searches conducted on the above in bold, the information requested is contained in Annex B.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because exemptions under sections 30(b)(ii) (free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation), 38(1)(b) (personal information), and 25(1) (information otherwise accessible) of FOISA apply to that information.

These exemptions have been applied for the following reasons:

• Section 30(b)(ii) has been applied to meeting notes and internal discussions to safeguard the space for free and frank deliberation, which is essential for effective decision-making.
• Section 38(1)(b) has been applied to redact personal data, including names and contact details of individuals below senior civil service level, in line with data protection requirements.
• Section 25(1) applies to information that is already publicly accessible, and we have signposted relevant sources where appropriate.

Where applicable, the public interest test was considered carefully. In each case, it was concluded that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosure. Each redaction has been applied in such a way that you will be able to note which redaction was used.

You may also find it helpful to consult the Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance: Tips for requesting information under FOI and the EIRs.

You may also find it helpful to look at the Scottish Information Commissioner’s ‘Tips for requesting information under FOI and the EIRs’ on his website at:
http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/YourRights/Tipsforrequesters.aspx.

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 202500480981 - Information released - ANNEX A

File type

PDF

File size

139.0 kB

FOI 202500480981 - Information released - ANNEX B

File type

PDF

File size

217.7 kB