· FOI · released
Grants paid from the Innovation and Industries budget: FOI release
Information requested
You asked for:
"Grants paid from the Innovation and Industries budget in 2016/17 and 2017/18 so far; for why the Innovation and Industries budget is separate from Scottish Government funding for Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council and for the most recent business case for the Innovation and Industries budget."
Response
I enclose the information you requested regarding "grants paid from the Innovation and Industries budget in 2016/17 and 2017/18 so far" (Annex A).
The answer to your question of "why the Innovation and Industries budget is separate from Scottish Government funding for Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council" is that it enables specific action by the Scottish Government across a range of economic issues arising outwith strategic guidance provided by Ministers to agency Chairs.
The information you have requested regarding "the most recent business case for the Innovation and Industries budget" is available from publications on the Scottish Government website, such as 'Scotland's Budget: Draft Budget for 2017-2018'(available here), the 'Budget Bill 2017-2018: Supporting Document' (available here) and the 'Autumn Budget Revision 2017-2018: Supporting Documents'(available here).
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(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
Detected exemption language
Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.