202300357710 · FOI · released
Short term lets: FOI release
Information requested
1) Over the last 3 years how much has the Scottish Gov and Edinburgh City Council spent on short term let accommodation like Airbnb and other such platforms?
2) With the now decimated short term lets industry due to new legislation presumably this is still a requirement so where are these people getting accommodated?
3) If hotels are now being used in place of short term lets has the Scottish Gov entered in to any negotiations with hotel operators to offer preferable rates?
4) Over the last 3 years how much has the Scottish Gov and Edinburgh City Council spent on hotel accommodation?
Response
I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested. The answers to your questions are given below.
1) The amount spent per calendar year by the Scottish Government on short term let accommodation is as follows:
Year Amount 2020 £19,404 2021 £2,195 2022 £36,417
The term "Scottish Government" in this case and below means the seven Directorates General of the Scottish Government. It excludes other public bodies of the Scottish Ministers, such as Executive Agencies, Executive non-departmental public bodies, non-Ministerial offices and nationalised public corporations.
2) The Scottish Government has a travel management contract in place that offers a wide range of travel services, including the booking of accommodation for business needs, within the UK and internationally. The accommodation offered ranges from guest houses and B&Bs to international hotel chains. Short term let accommodation is used only in exceptional cases.
3) The Scottish Government's travel management contract includes access to a negotiated accommodation programme with special pricing arrangements. This programme offers cost savings, added value benefits, and access to a wide range of accommodation providers.
4) The amount spent per calendar year by the Scottish Government on hotel accommodation, excluding short term lets, is as follows:
Year Amount 2020 £648,158 2021 £574,393 2022 £1,257,567
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. The reason is that the information relating to City of Edinburgh Council is not held by the Scottish Government. However, you may wish to contact City of Edinburgh Council using their Freedom of Information web page in order to request the information. The address is: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/foi.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Enquiry Unit Email: ceu@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrews House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG
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