Scottish Government’s Farm Subsidy IT system queries: FOI release

Information requested

1. Since January 2025 what changes or updates have been made to the Scottish Government’s Farm Subsidy IT System?

2. Since January 2025 how much has been spent on the Scottish Government’s Farm Subsidy IT System?

3. Please could you break the answer to (2) up by (i) spending per month and (ii) what that money has been spent on?

4. Since January 2025 how many technical failures has the Farm Subsidy IT System experienced that has caused a delay in payments being made?

5. In terms of the answer to (4), how many payment recipients has this affected?

Response

The IT costs within Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate secure a wide range of payment and regulatory services across NatureScot, Scottish Forestry, Marine, estate management, plant health, livestock identification and traceability, bee health. There is no single Scottish Government Farm Subsidy IT System.

Rural Payments and Services (RP&S) is the operating system for the main farm subsidies i.e. application submission and processing including the Single Application Form covering Basic Payment Scheme, Greening, Young Farmer Payment, LFASS, Agri-environment Climate Scheme (annual recurrent), Rural Priorities (annual recurrent) and Forestry Grant Scheme (annual recurrent, Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (mainland and islands) and Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme. Therefore we have answered your questions with reference to the Rural Payments and Services system.

I have provided a separate response below for each part of the requested information.

1. I enclose a table at Annex A, setting out most of the information you requested.

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 s.38(1)(b) (personal information) and 30(c) (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) of FOISA apply to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained in Annex B to this letter.

2. The table below details the amount spent on Rural Payments and Services from January 2025. This includes costs from Supply Chain providers. The information for January 2025 to March 2025 has been derived from analysis of our audited accounting records . The information for April 2025 to September 2025 has been derived from analysis of our accounting records which are subject to audit.

Period Payment Months	Amount (£) excluding VAT
January 2025 to September 2025	4,373,784.81

3. The table below details the amount spent on Rural Payments and Services from January 2025 to September 2025 by payment month and work undertaken. The information for January 2025 to March 2025 has been derived from analysis of our audited accounting records. The information for April 2025 to September 2025 has been derived from analysis of our accounting records which are subject to audit.

Payment Month	Amount (£) excluding VAT	Work Undertaken
January 2025	795,911.90	Maintenance and modernisation
February 2025	452,813.62	Maintenance and modernisation
March 2025	868,151.77	Maintenance and modernisation
April 2025	-2,304.90	Maintenance and modernisation
May 2025	440,358.07	Maintenance and modernisation
July 2025	909,282.02	Maintenance and modernisation
August 2025	467,159.24	Maintenance and modernisation
September 2025	442,413.09	Maintenance and modernisation
Total January 2025 to September 2025	4,373,784.81

4. There have been no technical failures within the time frame and systems detailed which resulted in a delay to our published payments schedule.

5. There have been no technical failures within the time frame and systems detailed which resulted in a delay to our published payments schedule.

ANNEX A

See Attachment

ANNEX B

REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names, account codes, addresses etc. and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

An exemption under section 30(c) of FOISA (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) applies to some of the information requested. Disclosing this information would substantially prejudice our ability to conduct IT updates and solutions and keep our IT systems secure. In considering this exemption we have taken account of the fact that disclosure of information under the FOISA is to “the world at large”, not just to an individual applicant. We are therefore required to consider the effect of releasing this information into the public domain.

This exemption 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 exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the ability of the Scottish Government to ensure that its IT systems operate safely and securely, as well as to protect our networks and information, which is critical to ensure that the Scottish Government is able conduct this aspect of its business effectively.

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 202500487464 - Information released - ANNEX A

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