FOI/202600521264 · FOI · already published
NHS Scotland and Social Care Services costs for asylum Seeker and refugees: FOI release
Information requested
1. Any reports, studies, reviews, or estimates (published or unpublished) that the Scottish Government or NHS Scotland have produced or commissioned since 2020 on the impact of asylum seekers and refugees on NHS services or social care. This includes (but is not limited to) costs, service usage, mental health support, trauma services, complex needs, translation/interpretation services, or pressure on waiting lists.
2. If no such reports or estimates exist, confirmation of this fact.
To assist with the cost of this request, I am content for searches to focus on the period 2020 to present and for the following key terms: “asylum seeker”, “refugee”, “New Scots”, “Ukraine resettlement”, “mental health”, “trauma”, “translation”, “interpretation”, “waiting list”, “service pressure”, and “social care”.
Response
I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested in the attached documents summarised in the table below.
Document number Document title 01 Submission- Flu vaccination of asylum seekers in Home Office accommodation during the seasonal flu programme Winter 2024-2025
Please note that “The total amount spent by the Scottish Government on asylum seeker and refugee support (accommodation, welfare, health, education, integration, and legal support) in each of the last three financial years.” Was released to you under FoI 202600517187 on 16 June 2026.
Additionally “Estimated or actual total spend across Scotland on translation and interpretation services for asylum seekers and refugees in the last three years. Breakdown by service area (housing, health, education, social care, policing)” were released to you on 10 June 2026 under the response to FoI 202600517250.
As immigration is a reserved matter such work may have been undertaken by the Home Office whose Resettlement, Asylum Support & Integration Team have supported groups to deliver this work such as The National Asylum Seeker Health Oversight Group (NASHOG) and the National Asylum Seeker Health Steering Group (NASHSG).
While we endeavour to provide all information requested, some of the information has been found to be exempt:
Exemptions apply under sections s.25(1) s.29 (1)(a), s.30(b)(i) s.30(b)(ii) and s.38(1)(b) of FOISA to some of the information you have requested. Further information can be found in Appendix A.
Appendix A
REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION
An exemption applies, subject to the public interest test
Section 29(1)(a) – formulation or development of government policy
An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA (formulation or development of government policy) applies to some of the information requested because it relates to the formulation of the Scottish Government’s policy on NHS recover.
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 a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in high quality policy and decision-making, and in the properly considered implementation and development of policies and decisions. This means that Ministers and officials need to be able to consider all available options and to debate those rigorously, to fully understand their possible implications.
Section 30(b)(i) – free and frank provision of advice
Exemptions under section 30(b)(i) of FOISA (free and frank provision of advice) applies to some of the information requested.
This exemption recognises the need for Ministers to have a private space within which to seek advice and views from officials before reaching the settled public position. Disclosing the content of free and frank briefing material provided by boards relating to capital spending, construction and workforce will substantially inhibit such briefing in the future, particularly because discussions on the issue relate to a commercially sensitive and ongoing matter.
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 a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in allowing a private space within which officials can provide full and frank advice to Ministers as part of the process of exploring and refining the Government’s policy, until the Government as a whole can adopt a policy decision that is sound and likely to be effective. This private thinking space is essential to enable all options to be properly considered, based on the best available advice, so that good policy decisions can be taken. Premature disclosure is likely to undermine the full and frank discussion of issues between Ministers and officials, which in turn will undermine the quality of the policy decision making process, which would not be in the public interest.
Section 30(b)(ii) – Free and Frank Exchange of Views for the Purposes of Deliberation
An exemption under section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA (Free and Frank Exchange of Views) applies to some of the amount of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. This exemption recognises the need for a private space to discuss and explore options internally and with stakeholders. Disclosing the content of free and frank discussions will substantially inhibit such discussions in the future and may deter stakeholders from entering into discussions with the Scottish Government if they believe their comments will be published. 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 a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in allowing a private space within which to engage with stakeholders and external experts. This private thinking space is essential to enable all options to be properly considered, so that good policy decisions can be taken. Premature disclosure is likely to undermine the full and frank discussion of issues, which in turn will undermine the quality of the policy making process, which would not be in the public interest.
An exemption applies
Section 25 – Information otherwise accessible
Section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) exempts information from disclosure where the requester can reasonably obtain the information without asking for it under FOISA. The response above outlines how you can obtain the publicly available information. 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.
Section 38(1)(b) – applicant has asked for personal data of a third party
An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names and contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. 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.
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.
Detected exemption language
While we endeavour to provide all information requested, some of the information has been found to be exempt: Exemptions apply under sections s.25(1) s.29 (1)(a), s.30(b)(i) s.30(b)(ii) and s.38(1)(b) of FOISA to some of the information you have requested. Appendix A REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION An exemption applies, subject to the public interest test Section 29(1)(a) – formulation or development of government policy An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA (formulation or development of government policy) applies to some of the information requested because it relates to the formulation of the Scottish Government’s policy on NHS recover. 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.