Ministerial correspondence regarding Inverclyde Royal Hospital & Port Glasgow Health Centre: FOI release

Information requested

Please provide all ministerial briefings, submissions, memos, correspondence and internal emails nprepared for or sent to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (or his predecessor(s)) since 1 January 2021 relating to:

1. The repair or replacement of the external façade of Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

2. The proposal, funding, or planning for a new Port Glasgow Health Centre.

Response

Question 1

Some of the information you have requested is provided in the annex to this response.

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 the following sections of FOISA apply to that information:

• s.25(1) (information otherwise accessible)
• s.30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice)
• s.30(b)(ii) (free and frank exchange of views)

The reason these exemptions apply are set out below.

An exemption applies under Section 25(i) - Information otherwise accessible

Section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) exempts information from disclosure where the requester can obtain the information without asking for it under FOISA. The information you requested that is otherwise accessible can be found here:

Inverclyde MP calls for urgent repairs to safeguard IRH | Greenock Telegraph

An exemption applies under Section 30(b)(i) - Free and frank provision of advice and 30(b)(ii) - Free and frank exchange of views

Exemptions under Section 30(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information requested (s.30(b)(i) Free and frank provision of advice and s.30(b)(ii) (Free and frank exchange of views).

These exemptions are 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 exemptions. We have found that, on balance the public interest lies in favour of upholding these exemptions.

We recognise that there is some public interest in releasing this information, however, there is a need for Ministers and officials to have a private space to seek advice, exchange views and discuss options before reaching a settled public view. Disclosing the content of such advice and discussions would substantially inhibit the free and frank provision of advice and exchange of views in the future.

Question 2

An exemption applies under Section 17(1) – Information is not held.

The 2025-26 Scottish Budget includes additional investment £139 million for NHS infrastructure. This increase provides additional core capital funding for NHS Boards to support maintenance and improvements, additional support for Board priority maintenance and equipment replacements, and continued support for projects in construction and ambulance and radiotherapy replacement programmes. It also allows work on the replacement of some acute facilities to recommence.

Current priority health projects for capital investment are replacing University Hospital Monklands, Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, the Belford Hospital and the Barra and Vatersay Community Campus and a new radionuclide facility in Glasgow.

With regards to plans for future health infrastructure projects, we are already working with all health boards to develop a whole-system NHS infrastructure plan to inform strategic investment priorities across the NHS estate which will support continued safe operation of existing facilities as well as determination of longer-term investment priorities.

A key part of this consideration will be identifying primary care priorities. Once this work has completed proposals and plans for future health infrastructure projects will be developed, aligned to and dependent upon availability of funding.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

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 202500481005 - Information released - Annex A

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