FOI/202100145245 · FOI · unclear
Breakdown of Transport Scotland frontline communication and press officers: FOI release
Information requested
1. Can you please set out how many FTE frontline communications staff/press officers there have been for each of the ten years to 2019/20. If an average number cannot be sourced, pick March as a snapshot. 1b. How many FTE frontline communications staff/press officers were there in January (snapshot) 2021. 1c. What was the annual cost of employing those frontline staff in all those years 2009/10 - 2019/20. 2. How many FTE frontline communications staff/press officers have been employed that have been outsourced, In other words, not in-house but external PR/communications supplied by a private company in all those years 2009/10 - 2019/20. 2b. How much was spent in those outsourced frontline PR/communications/press office functions, in other words, not in-house but external PR/communications supplied by a private company (as per Q4).
Response
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide costs on outsourced workers. Outsourced workers are paid by invoice rather than through payroll and the current information available on the outsourced staff is not sufficient to locate the invoices submitted in 2009, 2012 and 2013. The answers to your other questions are set out in Annex A attached. The FTE number and costs are as at 31 March of each year. Costs include employer's pension contributions and employer's National Insurance contributions, as well as professional supplements and overtime. 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.