Infrastructure & Construction Unit
Department for Business, Energy &
Industrial Strategy
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET
Mr John Eynon
T +44 (0)20 7215 5000 - Public enquiries
+44 (0)20 7215 6740 - Textphone (
for
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
those with hearing impairment)
E
xxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
www.gov.uk/bis
FOI2017/26235
12 December 2017
Dear Mr John Eynon,
Thank you for your email of 8 November where you requested the following information:
The UK BIM (Building Information Modelling) programme was launched with the Government
Construction Strategy in 2011.
Since that time, the UK BIM Task Group has been formed, work has been carried out in Gov
depts and across industry, standards have been produced etc.
I would like to see a detailed itemised breakdown on what public money has been spent, on
what, and who has received payment, whether that be an individual or an organisation.
A number of individuals and consultancies have been involved, so I'd like to see what they were
paid and for what. This is taxpayers money, and ultimately the Task Group and all involved and
connected are accountable to industry.
I understand that about £8m was spent on development of Level 2, and at least £15m has been
committed to the development of Level 3/Digital Built Britain.
I'd like to see where the money went, who to, and where/who it is committed to for future
spending.
I trust that's clear and I look forward to hearing from you.
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ('the Act'), you have the right to:
know whether we hold the information you require
be provided with that information (subject to any exemptions under the Act which may
apply).
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) can only account for its
own expenditure in relation to the BIM programme.
For the purposes of convenience and clarity the request has been divided into two periods
namely; ‘The First Period’ to CIC in relation to BIM Level 2 work (2011-2016) and ‘The
Second Period’ administered by Innovate UK (2016 - to date) in relation to BIM Level 3 work.
A.
The First Period
The then Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) provided the Construction
Industry Council (CIC) an Industrial Development Grant to lead a supply-chain focused
programme for the Implementation of BIM between 2011-2016. This included some personnel
who formed part of the BIM Task Group and the CIC who operated the BIM Task Group
website.
The total value of the grant during the period was £5.503m. This programme was duly
completed and closed last year. The Department were not party to the commercial
arrangements between any persons connected to the BIM Task Group who were engaged by
CIC as this was solely a matter for the parties concerned and we do not hold details on total
payments to individuals.
Should you require further advice, this can be sought from the CEO, Construction Industry
Council, 26 Store Street, London, WC1E 7BT
B.
The Second Period.
The records of expenditure under this period are held by Innovate UK and not by BEIS. A total
of £12m has been made available to Innovate UK for the purposes of pursuing the Level 3
programme.
Should you require further advice this can be sought by contacting
xxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
C.
Additional Expenditure
Although BEIS holds no record of contracts or payments with any individuals it has undertaken
the following additional expenditure between 2011 - to date. For convenience these have been
presented under thematic headings in the format of: financial year incurred, recipient, amount
and rationale, which are contained at Annex A.
To the extent that the Department holds limited information about payments to individuals, the
requested information has been withheld under
Section 40 of the Act.
Section 40(2) exempts
information from disclosure if that information constitutes personal data of someone other than
the applicant, and if disclosure of that information would contravene any of the data protection
principles in schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998. In this case, we believe
disclosure would contravene the first data protection principle, which provides that personal
data must be processed fairly and lawfully.
Page 2 of 4
Appeals procedure
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal
review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of
the response to your original request and should be addressed to the Information Rights Unit:
Information Rights Unit
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET
Email
: xxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly
to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be
contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Yours sincerely
,
Infrastructure & Construction Unit
Page 3 of 4
ANNEX A
Financial Year
Recipient
Amount (£)
Rationale
Contribution to other Government organisation to support collaborative BIM work: 11/12 to date
Other Government
2,390,000 A range of cross-Government
Departments
collaborative projects.
Technical and Programme Development 11/12
BSI
298,000 Standards development and
14/15,
licences
15/16
16/17,
13/14
University College
106,000 Lead a multi-disciplined task
London
group to support the technical
development of BIM L3
15/16
PWC
74, 698 Business and analytical support
for BIM L3
Events and related expenses 15/16
Stereographic
5,000 New scheme Logo and branding
design
13/14
Institution of Civil
40,000 Support for their annual BIM
15/16
Engineers
event and development of a
16/17
programme specifically aimed at
professional procurers in
infrastructure construction.
14/15
BuildingSmart
14,500 Membership fee and technical
15/16
development work.
16/17
11/12
Buildoffsite
4,100 An event with RIBA to promote
Lean and digital construction.
11/12
CIRIA
12,000 A programme of thematic events
on BIM.
Support for Academic research and networks 16/17
University College
299,580 Purchase of an advance digital-
London
scanning and measurement
equipment for use in a
collaboration of universities. The
instrument is of British
Manufacture.
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