Chamber and committees

Latest data published by the Scottish Government on 25 April 2024, show that as at 25 March 2024, an estimated 2,150 guests were in welcome accommodation in Scotland. This represents a reduction of 70% from the peak of just over 7,200 people in November 2022

The next statistical release on the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme in Scotland will be published by the Scottish Government on 29 August 2024.

Additionally, the Scottish Government publish a calendar of forthcoming statistical releases. The calendar can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/official-statistics-forthcoming-publications/ ”

As I set out in a recent letter to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, issued on 20 May, work is underway to improve the transparency and consistency of our grant-making practices with the third sector.

Consideration is being given to how we can better monitor and report on third sector grant funding including the timeliness of notification and grant payments.

I refer the member to the answer to S6W-28419 on 22 July 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Scottish Government recognises the value engagement to evaluate the impact of the measures we are progressing with respect to Fairer Funding. Officials in the Third Sector Unit are in regular contact with organisations like SCVO and the network of Third Sector Interfaces which provide a voice for the wider sector.

As I said in my letter to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee on 20 May we recognise, through our engagement, there is a need to ensure that we can work with them to identify solutions to the challenges facing us.

I provided an update on our plans to introduce multi-year funding for the third sector in my letter to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee on 20th May. As noted in that letter, we remain committed to embedding a multi-year grant approach on third sector grants by 2026 including delivering increased numbers of multi-year funding awards, where possible and appropriate.

While it is very challenging to deliver in the current financial context, I have asked officials to do further work and have confirmed I will write to the committee again to update on progress.

In the 2023/24 Programme for Government we committed, as part of developing an approach to fairer funding for the third sector, to deliver improvements in grant-making arrangements, including providing greater clarity and consistency of practice.

Expanding on this, the Former First Minister committed to specific delivery goals for 24/25 in his speech at the Gathering third sector conference including a) prompt notification of funding to third sector organisations (before 31 March for funding due to commence on 1 April) b) an increase in the number of multi-year arrangements, where possible and c) a review of grant conditions.

I wrote to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee on 20 May to report on our progress against these delivery goals and our progress towards Fairer Funding more generally, setting out the challenges that we have met in the current financial context. I have committed to providing a further update as our work progresses.

I refer the member to the answer to S6W-28419 on 22 July 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Reporting covering monthly spend over £25k are published on the Scottish Government website Government spend over £25,000: monthly reports - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . In addition, annual budget documentation setting out spending plans by portfolio and programme are included in the annual accounts, Consolidated Accounts: year ended 31 March 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) also available from the Scottish Government website. Whilst current annual reporting does not give the analysis proposed, the monthly reporting provides detailed information. The Scottish Government is currently undergoing a transition of its financial reporting functionality, that will allow for financial reporting developments in the future.

There are no plans for the Scottish Government to publish open data on grant funding using the non-governmental 360 Giving Standard database. Existing reporting covering monthly spend over £25k is published on the Scottish Government website, providing details of payee and description. Government spend over £25,000: monthly reports - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

The Scottish Government is committed to progressing a Fairer Funding approach for the third sector to improve the transparency and consistency of our funding relationships.

Improving grant-making practices across the Scottish Government is a significant undertaking and we are at the beginning stages of this process. The measures that we have prioritised to date – early notification of funding, increased multi-year agreements, improved relationship practices and grant conditions – do align with the SCVO’s principles. However, we have been clear that the implementation of Fairer Funding within the current financial context is challenging and that our ability to deliver on every aspect of SCVO’s ask is constrained.

I set out progress towards our priorities, the challenges that we have met and our next steps, in a letter to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee of 20 May and have committed to keep them updated as our work continues.