The number of consultants employed by the Scottish Government in certain areas of policy: FOI release

Information requested

How many consultants are or have been, at any time, employed to support the Scottish Government on education work, policy, strategy, press and planning in a) 2015, b) 2016, c) 2017, d) 2018, e) 2019, f) 2020, g) 2021 and h) 2022?

Response

The answer to your question is 4, broken down as follows:
2017 – 1
2021/22 – 1
2022 – 2
This is based on the "three part test" used to defineconsultants found in the guidance on the use of consultants for public bodies in Scotland. The three parts are:

1. There must be an on-going exchange of intellectual or professional information concerning the planning and/or delivery of the project or objectives between the SG and the supplier;

2. The commission/contract ends at the completion of an agreed output(s) rather than the end of a set period of time (subject to the required project timescales);

3. The day-to-day task management remains with the supplier. However, a regular reporting arrangement should be agreed with the SG contact to ensure that progress is recorded, that issues/risks are identified early, and that resolutions are agreed and delivered, where necessary.

The full guidance can be found on the link below.
Use of consultants: guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

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.