Information Rights Unit
HM Treasury
1 Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ
S Carroll
020 7270 5000
xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
www.gov.uk/hm-treasury
17 May 2021
Dear S Carroll
Ref: FOI2021/12613
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Thank you for your enquiry dated 16 April 2021 (under our reference: FOI2020/12613),
which we have considered under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the
FOI Act).
You asked for the following information:
“For the costing documents related to the written statement made by Paymaster
General Ms Mordaunt on the 25th of March 2021. The timescale planning
document for the same statement?
Who from the Treasury is responsible for the project management for the
implantation laid out in the written statement as a point of accountability? If there
is such team?
The document's related to the transfer of funds for the Parity Scheme from the
Treasury to the four Government Scheme's in each nation of the UK?
How many minted meetings have taken place between the Treasury, The Cabinet
Office & EIBSS between 01/11/20 - 14/04/21? Please provide the minutes.”
Following a search of our records, we can confirm that HM Treasury does hold some
information within the scope of your request, which is set out below.
For the costing documents related to the written statement made by Paymaster General
Ms Mordaunt on the 25th of March 2021. The timescale planning document for the same
statement?
The information that we have identified engages section 35(1)(a) of the FOI Act. Section
35(1)(a) is engaged because the information in scope relates to the development of
Government policy on Infected Blood victim support schemes. This is a qualified
exemption and we are required to balance the public interest between disclosure and non-
disclosure of the information.
In relation to the release of this information, we recognise that there is an inherent public
interest in transparency and accountability of public authorities. We also recognise the
broad public interest in furthering public understanding of the issues with which public
authorities deal. There is a clear public interest in the work of Government departments
being transparent and open to scrutiny to increase diligence.
Balanced against this, with regard to section 35(1)(a) is the public interest in protecting
the Government’s ability to discuss and develop policies in a safe space and to reach well-
formed conclusions. The Information Commissioner has recognised that policy
development needs some degree of freedom to enable the process to work effectively and
we consider that there is a strong public interest in protecting information where release
would be likely to have a detrimental impact on the ongoing development of policy. There
is a strong public interest in protecting against encroachment on the ability of ministers
and/or officials to develop policy options freely and frankly. In this particular case the
costings HM Treasury holds were shared by the Department of Health and Social Care
(DHSC) during the process of developing the changes to the infected blood support
schemes and are not the final costings.
Given the above considerations, we conclude that the public interest lies in favour of
withholding this information.
Who from the Treasury is responsible for the project management for the implantation
laid out in the written statement as a point of accountability? If there is such team?
DHSC has responsibility with the England Infected Blood support scheme for the
implementation of the changes to the English scheme, and the devolved administrations
will be responsible for their schemes.
The document's related to the transfer of funds for the Parity Scheme from the Treasury to
the four Government Scheme's in each nation of the UK?
HM Treasury does not hold documents related to the transfer of funds for the Parity
scheme to the four schemes in each nation of the UK. DHSC are administering the transfer
of funds.
How many minted meetings have taken place between the Treasury, The Cabinet Office &
EIBSS between 01/11/20 - 14/04/21? Please provide the minutes
No minuted meetings between HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office, and EIBSS took place
between the dates provided.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact us. Please quote the reference
number above in any future communications.
Yours sincerely
Information Rights Unit
Copyright notice
Most documents HM Treasury supplies in response to a Freedom of Information request,
including this letter, continue to be protected by Crown copyright. This is because they will
have been produced by Government officials as part of their work. You are free to use
these documents for your information, for any non-commercial research you may be doing
and for news reporting. Any other re-use, for example commercial publication, will require
the permission of the copyright holder. Crown copyright is managed by The National
Archives and you can find details on the arrangements for re-using Crown copyright
material at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/re-using-public-
sector-information/uk-government-licensing-framework/crown-copyright
/
Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
If you are not happy with this reply, you can request a review by writing to HM Treasury,
Information Rights Unit, 1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ or by emailing us at the
address below. Any review request must be made within 40 working days of the date of
this letter.
Email: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
It would assist our review if you set out which aspects of the reply concern you and why
you are dissatisfied.
If you are not content with the outcome of the review, you may apply directly to the
Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Commissioner will not make a
decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by HM Treasury
which is outlined above.
The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF (or via their website at:
https://ico.org.uk).