FOI - GLA funding for Stonewall [Apr 2022]

Your request

1. In respect of each of the years from 2015 to 2021, please confirm what funding has been provided to Stonewall by the Greater London Authority (London Assembly)

2. Please specify whether the funding in 1 above has been in the form of:

(a) direct grants for unlimited purposes;

(b) direct grants for limited purposes (in that event, stating the purpose);

(c) payment for goods or services (specifying the relevant goods and services).

3. Where the funding in 1 above has been by way of payment for goods or services, please specify:

(a) what analysis has been conducted to ascertain whether these goods or services meet contractual and/or legal requirements;

(b) what contractual or other recourse exists to reclaim in respect of goods or services that are defective, substandard or delivered in contravention of the law;

(c) what steps are being taken to seek recourse for any such contractual or legal shortfalls.

4. In respect of the payments referred to in 1 above, please state:

(a) What criteria were applied in deciding to make payments by way of direct grants;

(b) What tendering process was conducted with regard to provision of goods or services;

(c) What alternative suppliers of goods or services were considered.

Our response

Please find attached the information we hold within the scope of your request regarding payments for goods or services.

We have withheld a small amount of information under Section 43(2) (Commercial Interests) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Stonewall’s commercial interests as a provider of services to improve diversity and inclusion will be undermined if competitors have access to information that reveals its fee structures. Competitors would be likely to use this information to their advantage (for example, undercutting prices). There are a significant number of competitors providing services in this sector; it is likely they do market research on Stonewall’s pricing and would use any disclosures to their advantage. There is a real and significant risk that this would lead to the loss of custom for Stonewall if organisations chose the cheaper services.

While there is some general interest in transparency around the use of public funds, which is partially met by the release of other payment information, this is not strong in a case where the information is simply commercial information which does not advance any particular public debate. Any public interest in disclosure is outweighed by the public interest in withholding the information. Disclosure would be likely to damage Stonewall’s commercial interests, reducing the impact it can have as a charity.

The GLA does not hold any more information in relation to parts 3 and 4 of your request.

We are not required to carry out a formal tender process for payments in this range. Please see further information regarding our contracts and grants.  

If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact us, quoting reference MGLA241121-8591.