Responses to Consultation on Draft Referendum Bill: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/17/01577
Date received: 10 July 2017
Date responded: 4 August 2017

Information requested

1. The estimated cost of carrying out and analysing the responses to the Consultation on a Draft Referendum Bill.

2. If the Scottish Government would have to have a another bill consultation if it decided to hold a referendum in the future and for how long it considers the responses to the consultation to remain valid/useful.

Response

The information you have requested on the costs of carrying out and analysing the consultation is otherwise accessible, and can be found on the Scottish Government webpage, FOI/17/01508.

Staff Costs

The work that has been undertaken to date has been carried out by existing members of staff as part of their normal duties. In line with usual practice, no record has been taken of the number staff who have been involved in this work or the number of hours spent on individual tasks, as there is no business need to do this.

On your second point, this consultation has been vitally important in ensuring the technical procedures around any future referendum are robust, fair and transparent.

Decisions on appropriate consultation arrangements for any future legislation would be taken at the time.

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