FOI/202600523292 · FOI · not held
Freedom of Information Unit staffing levels and Scottish Information Commissioner Level 3 intervention costs: FOI release
Information requested
1. I request information on the cost of responding to and complying with the Level 3 intervention launched by the Scottish Information Commissioner on 15th November 2017 and its continuance as of June 2026.
I appreciate it has developed over the years to comply with the agreed action plan.
When responding, I request the information is broken down into each financial year and covers budget headings including staff costs, IT capital expenditure/digital infrastructure upgrades, legal compliance costs and training. However I appreciate there will be other costs too attributed to additional budget headings.
2. Can you also advise how many staff are employed in the FoI unit now compared to November 2017 and include a breakdown of job titles and grades?
Response
I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested. I have responded to each of your questions below.
1. Information on the cost of responding to and complying with the Level 3 intervention launched by the Scottish Information Commissioner on 15th November 2017 and its continuance as of June 2026. The information should be broken down into each financial year and covers budget headings including staff costs, IT capital expenditure/digital infrastructure upgrades, legal compliance costs and training and any other budgetary costs.
There is no business requirement for officials to record the cost of responding to and complying with the Level 3 intervention launched by the Scottish Information Commissioner. This intervention was launched to support improvements in the Scottish Government's FOI practice, performance, communications and records. These tasks are completed as part of the normal duties of a civil servant along with other tasks appropriate to their role. Given we do not hold details of the time spent by individuals undertaking these tasks we are unable to provide the total cost figure.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.
2. How many staff are employed in the Freedom of Information unit now compared to November 2017 and include a breakdown of job titles and grades?
In regards to this question, we do hold some of the information you have requested, please see the breakdown of the job titles, grades and numbers of employees within the FOI unit in 2017 and 2026.
2017
Staff Employed Job Title Grade 3 FOI Adviser B2 3 FOI Manager B3 1 Graduate Development Programme Graduate Development Programme 1 Head of FOI Unit C2 2 Agency staff - Total number of staff - 10
2026
Staff Employed Job Title Grade 7 FOI Manager B3 7 FOI Advisor B2 1 Head of FOI Policy C1 1 Head of Casework Advice Services C1 1 Head of Reviews and Appeals C1 1 Head of FOI Improvement C1 1 Head of FOI Unit C2 Total number of staff - 19 - -
However, in relation the job titles from 2017, we do not hold a record of some of the staff as they were employed as agency workers and have no grade. This is a formal notice under 17(1) of FOISA that we do not hold the information you have requested.
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
Detected exemption language
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.
Attachments
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