Resilience Training visits made to Bute House: FOI release

Information requested

In a previous FOI response (ref 202200280151) it was stated that there were visits made to Bute House by Scottish Government employees on the 25th, 26th, 30th & 31st of March 2020 and later on the 16th April 2020 and each time their 'reason for visit' was 'Resilience Training'. Please provide the following information:

1. All correspondence and communication that Bute House workers had about these specific visits. Specifically, documented correspondence showing how these visits were arranged in terms of time and how the purpose of these events was communicated to staff.
2. Who specifically attended the meetings or events that resulted from these visits for resilience training. In other words, who specifically took part in the training and in what way they took part.
3. How the training was conducted specifically in light of it taking place in the earliest days of lockdown.

Response

Bute House is the Official Residence of the First Minister. It is therefore the Scottish Governments responsibility to ensure that we protect our assets and loans of historical significance from any kind of theft, damage or loss. A staff presence was therefore maintained throughout the pandemic.

In order to provide additional resilience to the front of house provision seven staff from Ministerial Private Office and Workplace Division were given practical training on the operation of the security and fire safety systems within the house. All training was carried out whilst observing Covid protocols in place at the time.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under Section 17(1) of FOISA the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested in question 1.

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.