Gateway Review information on the 'Reaching 100% Programme': FOI release

Information requested

The Scottish Government released a list of the Gateway Reviews completed in calendar years 2024 and 2025.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202500480983/

Please supply all items of information in the Gateway Review completed in 2025 on the 'Reaching 100% Programme' which is named on this list.

In order to fulfil this request as cheaply and efficiently as possible, it is suggested that copies of original files are released in PDF format.

Response

You asked for Scottish Government to supply all items of information in the Gateway Review completed in 2025 on the 'Reaching 100% Programme' which is named on this list of Gateway Reviews completed in calendar years 2024 and 2025. This request has been interpreted as an ask for the Gateway Review report.

Gate Reviews are conducted for the Scottish Government and associated public sector organisations to help support the successful delivery of projects by ensuring that good programme and project management practice is being used; that key risks are actively managed and to identify any learning points for better practice. The reports contain only a snapshot of the project at a particular point in time and since these reports were produced progress will have been made in addressing any recommendations for improvement.

I enclose a copy of the report.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance a small amount of information, i.e. the names of junior Scottish Government officials and employees of other organisations, has been redacted from the reports because an exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to that information. This exemption applies because the information is personal data of third parties and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 1998. 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.

Specifically, in relation to the Reaching 100% (R100) Programme report a small amount of information has been redacted from the report under s.30(b)(i) (Free and frank provision of advice) and s.30(b)(ii) (Free and frank exchange of views); and s.33(1)(b) – commercial interest, of FOISA, where disclosure of information would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views for advisory or deliberative purposes as well as be likely to prejudice substantially, the effective conduct of public affairs, or affect a person, authority, company or partnership’s commercial interests.

As the exemptions are conditional we have applied the ‘public interest test’. This means we have, in all the circumstances of this case, 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. If officials and stakeholders involved felt inhibited in participating in free and frank exchange of views and information, because of the risk of subsequent disclosure, progress could have been adversely affected.

In relation to the report on the Reaching 100% (R100) Programme, please note that the review was carried out in early June 2025. The timing and purpose of the review was to take into account new contracts awarded under UK Government’s Project Gigabit Project with a focus on the internal workings between two governments and how Scottish Government manage multiple contracts with the same supplier to drive efficiencies and optimise connectivity delivery across Scotland.

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 202500494967 - Information released - Report

File type

PDF

File size

754.3 kB