FOI/202000054934 · FOI · partially withheld
Coronavirus Business Support Scheme criteria for Local Authorities: FOI release
Information requested
A copy of the instructions/guidance/criteria sent to Local Authorities in respect of the Coronavirus Business Support Scheme which Local Authorities use to make their decisions.
Response
Most of the information you have requested is available on the Scottish Government website. This guidance was provided in Local Government Finance Circulars as detailed below.
Local Government Finance Circular 5/2020 Covid-19 Grant Funding Scheme (superseded) https://www.gov.scot/publications/local-government-finance-circular-5-2020-covid-19-grant-fundingschemes/
Local Government Finance Circular 8/2020 Covid-19 Grant Funding Scheme (as amended) https://www.gov.scot/publications/local-government-finance-circular-8-2020-covid-19-grant-fundingschemes-as-amended/
Local Government Finance Circular 9/2020 Covid-19 Grant Funding Scheme Phase 2 https://www.gov.scot/publications/local-government-finance-circular-9-2020-covid-19-grant-fundingscheme-phase-2/
Local Government Finance Circular 11/2020 Covid-19 Grant Funding Scheme Phase 3 https://www.gov.scot/publications/local-government-finance-circular-11-2020-covid-19-grant-fundingscheme-phase-3/
Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy. I also enclose a copy of some of the information you requested. The guidance above was supplemented with a log of the agreed approach for issues where it was not immediately apparent how the scheme guidelines applied. This log was shared with all local authorities.
An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to a small amount of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, ie contact details of individuals, 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.
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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.
Detected exemption language
Local Government Finance Circular 5/2020 Covid-19 Grant Funding Scheme (superseded) https://www.gov.scot/publications/local-government-finance-circular-5-2020-covid-19-grant-fundingschemes/ Local Government Finance Circular 8/2020 Covid-19 Grant Funding Scheme (as amended) https://www.gov.scot/publications/local-government-finance-circular-8-2020-covid-19-grant-fundingschemes-as-amended/ Local Government Finance Circular 9/2020 Covid-19 Grant Funding Scheme Phase 2 https://www.gov.scot/publications/local-government-finance-circular-9-2020-covid-19-grant-fundingscheme-phase-2/ Local Government Finance Circular 11/2020 Covid-19 Grant Funding Scheme Phase 3 https://www.gov.scot/publications/local-government-finance-circular-11-2020-covid-19-grant-fundingscheme-phase-3/ Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to a small amount of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, ie contact details of individuals, 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.