Ukraine and immigration costs: FOI review

Information requested

1. How much taxpayers' money has been sent to Ukraine?
2. Where was the money spent in Ukraine?
3. Were bombs bought by taxpayers money?
4. Were bombs made by taxpayers money?
5. How much has been spent on Ukraine immigration since March 2022?
6. How much money did Nicola Sturgeon give to COP27 without asking the Scottish people?

Response

A copy of some of the information you requested is attached.

1. The Scottish Government has provided £4 million in financial aid to help provide basic humanitarian assistance, including in health, water and sanitation, and shelter for those fleeing Ukraine:

• £1 million of this was allocated to the British Red Cross and SCIAF, both members of our standing Humanitarian Emergency Panel;
• £2 million for Ukraine via the DEC appeal launched in Scotland; and
• £1 million was allocated to UNICEF, to support work providing life-saving services and support families, including children with disabilities.

The Scottish Government has so far sent 5 consignments of medical supplies to Poland for onward transport to Ukraine, totalling 156 pallets worth almost £3 million.

2. The money was spent both in Ukraine supporting war affected people and in surrounding countries by international NGOs supporting displaced Ukrainians.

3. No.

4. No.

5. To end November, the Scottish Government’s Year to Date spend on the Ukraine Warm Scottish Welcome programme is £115,343,267, which comes from the £200 million budget set bet the Deputy First Minister for the programme in the 22-23 financial year.

6. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested on money given to COP27. The information on cost is currently incomplete. We are collating the cost information and aim to publish it on 31 January 2023.

Furthermore, an exemption under section 27(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information requested because we aim to publish that information by 31 January 2023, which is approximately 12 weeks from the date of your request.

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 some public interest in release because the actions of ministers including COP27 related costs should be on record and this will be met by our planned publication. 

In the meantime, there is a greater public interest in taking the time necessary to ensure the information has been properly collated and checked before it is published as planned. Also, we see no public interest in disrupting our programme of work to release the information ahead of the intended publication date.

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.