Referendums Scotland Bill Team staffing details: FOI release

Information requested

“How many civil servants does the Scottish Government use for work towards a second independence referendum please?

Can this number be provided from 2014 to 2022 too please?

In which Scottish Government buildings are the civil servants working towards an independence referendum based please?
Ie, Bute House, for example?

How many hours are they contracted to work per day please?

What is the average salary for the civil servants working a second referendum?

Is this paid for by the UK Government or the Scottish Government?

Who is the line manager for the unit?

What qualifications are required of the civil servants?

Do any have a background in law for example?”

Response

“How many civil servants does the Scottish Government use for work towards a second independence referendum please?”

The Referendums Scotland Bill team is a team of four civil servants in the Scottish Government’s Constitution and Cabinet Directorate. Work related to the 2022 Programme for Government commitment to introduce a Referendum Bill to enable a referendum on 19 October 2023 is coordinated by the Referendums Scotland Bill team. A small number of other civil servants have been involved in the wider work on referendum legislation and other preparations for the proposed referendum, but as civil servants are not required to record the time spent on individual tasks we cannot provide an exact figure.

On that basis, our answers to your subsequent questions are based on information relating to the Referendums Scotland Bill team.

“Can this number be provided from 2014 to 2022 too please?”

We do not routinely keep records on historic staffing levels. This is a formal notice under Section 17 of FOISA that we do not have the information you have requested.

We have previously responded to a number of FOIs on referendum staffing. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. However, in the interests of being helpful, we have provided links to the relevant material below:

• Comparison of civil servants working on referendums and Gender Recognition: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• The Referendums Scotland Bill Team: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• Work carried out relating to an independence referendum: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• Scottish Government staff engaged in updating the ‘Scotland’s Future’ publication: FOI release -gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

“In which Scottish Government buildings are the civil servants working towards an independence referendum based please? Ie, Bute House, for example?”

The contractual work location for the Referendums Scotland Bill team is St Andrews House, Edinburgh.

“How many hours are they contracted to work per day please?”

As set out in the Scottish Government terms and conditions of employment, Scottish Government employees work a 5 day week of 37 hours excluding meal breaks of one hour per day. Some staff may work a compressed or part time working pattern.

An exemption under s.38(1)(b) (third party data) applies to some of the information you have requested, as it relates to the individual working patterns of individual members of staff at grades below SCS.

“What is the average salary for the civil servants working a second referendum?”

At 7 September 2022, staff in the Scottish Government’s Referendums Scotland Bill Team comprised of 4 officials (graded 1 C2, 2 C1s, 1 B2).

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. This is because it is personal data of a third party, specifically the salaries of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

“Is this paid for by the UK government or the Scottish Government?”

The information you have requested is included within the 2022-23 Scottish Budget, available from the Scottish Government website. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. However, in the interests of being helpful, we have provided links to the relevant material below: Scottish Budget 2022 to 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

“Who is the line manager for the unit?”

An exemption under s.38(1)(b) (third party data) applies to the information you have requested. This is because it relates to individual members of staff at grades below SCS.

“What qualifications are required of the civil servants?”

All Scottish Government employees are recruited in line with Scottish Government recruitment policies, which specify appropriate qualifications for individuals recruited at specific grades. All staff must meet the required essential criteria set out in the job description.

“Do any have a background in law for example?”

An exemption under s.38(1)(b) (third party data) applies to the information you have requested. This is because it relates to individual members of staff at grades below SCS.

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.