FOI/202500486971 · FOI · released
Target for reducing the number of civil servants information: FOI release
Information requested
On 30th September 2025 Shona Robison appeared before the Finance and Public Administration Committee. She was asked about the target for reducing the number of civil servants, and said this:
“So for example we need to lead by example and there have been changes made in Director, DG territory, to make sure that we can’t ask others to do things that the top level of civil service is not prepared to do itself. So there’s been a reduction in the number there in order to lead by example.”
Please provide the full details of the changes/reductions mentioned by Shona Robison at the top level of the civil service.
Response
I enclose a copy of the information you requested, showing a change in our SCS workforce between June 2024 and June 2025. Further information on our wider workforce is available here Scottish Government workforce information - gov.scot
SG Core - Workforce FTE and Headcount by Grade Jun-24 Jun-25 FTE Headcount FTE Headcount Percentage change in FTE Deputy Director 211 220 193 200 -8.6% Director 58 59 50 52 -13.0% Director General 8 8 8 8 0.0% Permanent Secretary 1 1 1 1 0.0% SCS Total 278 288 252 261 -9.2%
In September 2025, the Director General (DG) Strategy and External Affairs and Director General Exchequer areas were brought together to form a new DG Exchequer, Strategy and Performance office, under a single Director General Position, resulting in a reduction of 1 in the DG headcount/FTE. This change is one of the elements the Cabinet Secretary for Finance was referring to in relation to reductions in senior leadership numbers.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Correspondence Unit Email: contactus@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Attachments
No attachments found.