LEIP scheme projects: FOI release

Information requested

1. To list those projects under the LEIP scheme which have reached financial close, and the capital value of each project.
2. To list those projects under the LEIP scheme which are under discussion with local authorities, but have not yet reached financial close, and the likely capital value of each project.
3. To provide insight to how the LEIP scheme is performing by providing access to: any internal briefings/memos; any correspondence between cabinet ministers; and any external correspondence to cabinet ministers
4. To provide insight to if any consideration is given to introducing a similar scheme to other sectors than education by providing access to: any internal briefings/memos; any correspondence between cabinet ministers; and any external correspondence to cabinet ministers.
5. To provide a timeline for any planned reviews or evaluations of LEIP

Response

I have responded in turn to each part of your request:

Parts 1 and 2

Details of the Learning Estate Investment Programme’s projects can be found at the following link: Learning Estate Investment Programme: information - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

Of those listed within the link, the following projects have reached contract close:

• East Lothian: Wallyford Learning Campus
• East Renfrewshire: Neilston Learning Campus
• Perth and Kinross: Riverside Primary School
• South Ayrshire: Maybole Community Campus
• South Lanarkshire: Newton Farm Primary School (Extension)
• West Lothian: Beatlie School Campus

The other projects listed have not yet reached contract close.

Funding values will be populated in the above link once available.

Part 3

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the costs of locating, retrieving and providing the information requested would exceed the upper cost limit of £600. The broad scope of your request would cover a significant volume of information. Under section 12 of FOISA public authorities are not required to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying would exceed the upper cost limit, which is currently set at £600 by Regulations made under section 12.

You may wish to note that having conducted searches for the correspondence and documentation that you have requested, we have found that your request would cover a substantial volume of information. All of this information would require further careful consideration to identify the specific information relevant to your request. Having removed any duplicates and identified the specific information relevant to your request, we would then have to establish if any exemptions under FOISA apply to any of the information and redact it as appropriate.

As noted above, there has been a significant volume of engagement on this topic. Therefore, you may wish to consider resubmitting your FOISA request with a reduced scope. For example, narrowing the timeframe of the request to e.g. a one month period. Please note that I cannot guarantee at this stage that a refined request would not fall within the cost exemption. You may also find it useful to look at the Scottish Information Commissioner’s ‘Tips for requesting information under FOI and the EIRs’. It can be found here.

However, the following links to Learning Estate Investment Programme announcements may be of use:

• Phase 1 - announcement of projects: New schools and campuses for Scotland - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).
• Phase 2 - announcement of projects: Schools upgrade - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

Part 4

I can confirm that the Scottish Government holds information falling within the scope of this part of your request. All information held that is in scope, with the exception of exempt material, is attached in the Annex to this letter.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, we are unable to provide a small amount of the information. An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA applies to that information because release of the redacted text would inhibit development of government policy.

Part 5

As a joint investment programme between Scottish Government and local authorities, the Learning Estate Investment Programme is under continual review by Scottish Minsters and COSLA leaders.

In addition, a second independent gateway review of the Learning Estate Investment Programme will take place before the end of this year.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI - 202200302966 - Document for Release

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