Alternative funding models query concerning East Calder Health Centre: FOI release

Information requested

1. Commencement of work

• The exact date on which the Scottish Government began work on exploring alternative funding options, including revenue-funded models, to support investment in health facilities.
• If no specific date can be identified, please provide any record, note, or document that sets out when this work was first commissioned, authorised, or initiated.

2. Ministerial correspondence

• Copies of all correspondence (including emails, letters, or notes of meetings or calls) involving Neil Gray MSP, Angela Constance MSP, or their private offices that relates to the exploration of alternative funding options, including revenue-funded models, to support investment in healthfacilities.
• This request covers the period 1 January 2024 to the present.

3. Ministerial briefing material

• Copies of all briefing papers, ministerial submissions, or advice provided to Neil Gray MSP, Angela Constance MSP, or any other Scottish Ministers regarding the exploration of alternative funding options, including revenue-funded models, to support investment in health facilities.
• This request also covers the period 1 January 2024 to the present.

Response

Question 1

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

Following an action agreed between ministers on 14 March 2024, officials met with Scottish Future Trust on 1 April regarding availability a feasibility of alternative forms of finance that could support health infrastructure investment. Work on this matter is complex and remains ongoing.

Question 2 & 3

Some of the information you have requested was provided to you in our response of 28 August 2025 to your previous FOI request dated 30 July 2025. Further 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:

Written question and answer: S6T-01801 | Scottish Parliament Website

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.

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 202500485060 - Information released - Annex

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