Engagement with Republic of Media: FOI release

Information requested

I would like to submit a Freedom of Information Request on the government’s engagement with Republic of Media. I would like a record of all government spending on contracts with Republic of Media up to the present as well as a breakdown of these costs and which projects they were spent on. I would also like a full list of meetings between government officials and/or ministers and Republic of Media with the minutes of these meetings included."

After we sought further clarification, you outlined that you wished this request to cover the last five full  financial years.

Response

Please find on the attached spreadsheet details of all marketing spending on contracts with Republic Of Media for the financial years 2016-17, 2017-28, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21.These costs are broken down by campaign. The vast majority of payments made to Republic of Media are passed on to media owners to cover the cost of the media space received. A percentage is retained by Republic of Media to remunerate the organisation for its planning and buying services.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested in your second question. The Scottish Government does not hold a list of meetings between government officials and Republic of Media because contact between officials and Republic of Media is ongoing and continuous, with a high number of daily discussions taking place across a wide range of campaigns across multiple teams, rather than taking place in formal meetings at which minutes are taken.

Additionally, the Scottish Government does not hold a list of meetings between Ministers and Republic of Media because no meetings have taken place during the period covered by your request.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have 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 http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI202100230217 - Information released

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