FOI/202300355794 · FOI · withheld
Staffing and cost statistics for Scotland House in London: FOI release
Information requested
“Under a freedom of information request please provide the following regards the Scotland House London premises.
1. The costs of rent for the years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 (Jan 1st to 31st Dec each year).
2. The cost of staffing the building for the same periods.
3. The cost of electricity and gas for the same periods.
4. As the Scottish Government operates a membership facility at this location for hot desking, meeting rooms and holding events. Please supply the number of memberships sold at the various levels for the same periods above.
5. Please provide the total income these memberships have generated and the income generated from let's and hires.
6. Confirm where this income is returned to ie the Scottish Government."
Response
Please find enclosed my response to your individual questions. To note the Scottish Government budget management procedures collate data based on the financial year period, rather than calendar year. Please note therefore, the information provided below relates to the period 1st April – 31st March for the individual years 21-22 and 22-23.
1.While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because an exemption under section 33(1)(b) – Commercial Interests of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.
2.Scottish Government staff costs for those based within Scotland House London:
Year Staff Costs 2021-22 £668,000 2022-23 £844,000
3. The cost of electricity and gas at Scotland House London:
Year Gas and Electric combined costs 2021-22 £8,000 2022-23 £33,000
4. Membership figures for the financial years requested can be seen below. Please note, the Scotland House London membership model was paused in response to the COVID pandemic, becoming fully operational again from November 2021.
Year Enterprise Membership Associate Membership 2021-22 34 28 2022-23 50 29
5. Breakdown of income generated from the Scotland House membership scheme:
Year Source Income generated 2021/22 Membership £18,000 2021/22 Meetings £8,000 2021/22 Events £10,000 2022/23 Membership £28,000 2022/23 Meetings £25,000 2022/23 Events £28,000
6. All income generated through the Scotland House Membership model is returned to and accounted for within the Scottish Government accounts.
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.
Detected exemption language
1.While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because an exemption under section 33(1)(b) – Commercial Interests of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.