Cycling World Championships spend and benefits to hosting: FOI release

Information requested

“1. At the cycling world championships in glasgow how many events were attended by Scot Government ministers and a full list of these events and who attended them.

2. How much did the Scottish Government spend on events/parties linked to the World cycling championships in glasgow and breakdown of these costs, including how many parties were held, Scot Gov attendees, and rent costs of event spaces?

3. Any cost/benefit analysis Scottish Government did about holding the cycling world championships including how much public cash was spent on it compared to how much it made. Can you include any analysis done after the competition was done about the benefits it brought to Scotland and the negatives as well?”

Response

Under section 10(1) of FOISA, our response to your request was due on 20 October 2023. I apologise for the delay in issuing a full response by this deadline, unfortunately it took longer than expected to deal with question 3 of your request because of the nature of the information we were assessing.

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested. The response to each individual aspect of your request are set out below and numbered accordingly.

1 - A full list of the Cycling World Championships events in Glasgow that were attended by Scottish Government Ministers is set out in the following table:

Date	Engagement	Minister	Location
1 August	Active Travel Summit	Mr Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel & Tenants’ Rights	Clayton Hotel, Glasgow
2 August	Opening Reception & Ceremony	Humza Yousaf, First Minister	George Square, Glasgow
2 August	Opening Reception & Ceremony	Mr Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs & Culture	George Square, Glasgow
4 August	International Active Travel Roundtable	Mr Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel & Tenants’ Rights	Trades Hall, Glasgow
4 August	International Active Travel Roundtable – Velodrome	Mr Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs & Culture	Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Glasgow
6 August	Men’s Elite Road Race	Mr Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs & Culture	Finishes at George Square, Glasgow
8 August	Track Cycling	Ms Hyslop, Minister for Transport	Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Glasgow
8 August	UK Sport Reception	Mr Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs & Culture	The Flying Scotsman, The Corinthian Club, 191 Ingram Street, Merchant City, Glasgow, G1 1DA.
9 August	EDI Events Strategy Roundtable	Mr Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs & Culture	Atlantic Quay, Glasgow
9 August	Glasgow Green BMX/Trials	Mr Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs & Culture	Glasgow Green
9 August	Track Cycling	Humza Yousaf, First Minister	Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Glasgow
11 August	Indoor Cycling	Ms Todd, Minister for Social Care, Wellbeing & Sport	Emirates Arena, 1000 London Road, Glasgow, G40 3HG
12 August	Gala Dinner	Mr Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs & Culture	Kelvingrove Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AG
12 August	Gala Dinner	Ms Todd, Minister for Social Care, Wellbeing & Sport	Kelvingrove Museum, Argyle Street, G3 8AG
12 August	Gala Dinner	Ms Hyslop, Minister for Transport	Kelvingrove Museum, Argyle Street, G3 8AG
13 August	Women’s Elite Road Race finish	Mr Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs & Culture	George Square, Glasgow
13 August	Women’s Elite Road Race finish	Ms Todd, Minister for Social Care, Wellbeing & Sport	George Square, Glasgow
13 August	Women’s Elite Road Race finish	Ms Hyslop, Minister for Transport	George Square, Glasgow
13 August	Chairman’s Reception	Ms Hyslop, Minister for Transport	The Corinthian Club, Ingram Street, Glasgow

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some the information you have requested as the Scottish Government was not the organising body for most of these events, and so does not hold the full guest lists. Where we have information on attendees these have been included in Annex A (attached). This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

The Scottish Government does not comment on security matters. An exemption under section 39(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested in Annex A. This is because disclosure would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health or safety of an individual.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test.’ Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in the security arrangements for the First Minister’s engagements. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the safety of the First Minister.

An exemption under section 38(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. Information is exempt under section 38(1)(b) if It is personal data of a third party, i.e. the names and contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998. 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.

2 - The Scottish Government hosted 3 events in Glasgow linked to the Cycling World Championships.

A breakdown of costs and Scottish Government attendees for each event are set out in the following table:

Event 1 - Active Travel Summit
Date	Tuesday 1 August
Venue	Clayton Hotel, Glasgow
Scottish Government Attendees:	Patrick Harvie (Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights) Redacted s38(1)(b) (Private Secretary) Redacted s38(1)(b) (Private Secretary) Redacted s38(1)(b) Active Travel) Redacted s38(1)(b)Sustainable Travel) Gavin Corbett (SPAD) Bettina Sizeland (Director for Bus, Accessibility and Active Travel) Not attendees but working as front of House and logistics: Redacted s38(1)(b) (Access Bikes) Redacted s38(1)(b) (Access Bikes Policy Officer) Redacted s38(1)(b) (Access Bikes Policy Officer) Redacted s38(1)(b) (Access Bike Policy Officer)
Costs:	£3500 all-inclusive flat rate package covering the venue, catering for up to 200 guests, and AV.
Event 2 - International Active Travel Roundtable
Date	Friday 4 August
Venue	Trades Hall Glasgow
Scottish Government Attendees:	Patrick Harvie – Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights Frank Strang – Deputy Director, European Relations Redacted s38(1)(b)- European Relations Team Redacted s38(1)(b)- International Team Redacted s38(1)(b)- European Relations Team Redacted s38(1)(b)- International Team Redacted s38(1)(b)- European Relations Team Redacted s38(1)(b)- International Team Redacted s38(1)(b)- Active Travel Team Redacted s38(1)(b)– Private Secretary to Minister Harvie Redacted s38(1)(b)- International Futures Team Redacted s38(1)(b), Net Zero News
Costs:	Event space - £350 Catering - £857.50 Total = £1,207.50
Event 3 - EDI Events Strategy Roundtable
Date	Wednesday 9 August
Venue	Scottish Government, Atlantic Quay, Glasgow
Scottish Government Attendees:	Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Redacted s38(1)(b)Private Secretary Redacted s38(1)(b)Major Events team Redacted s38(1)(b)Major Events Team Redacted s38(1)(b)Major Events Team
Costs:	£56.26 - Tea, Coffee and biscuits

An exemption under section 38(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. Information is exempt under section 38(1)(b) if It is personal data of a third party, i.e. the names and contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998. 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.

3 - Annex B contains information on cost/benefit analysis held by the Scottish Government regarding hosting the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some the information you have requested. The total funding for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championship is in the process of being finalised and will be confirmed in due course. It includes contributions from the Scottish Government, UK Sport, British Cycling, Glasgow City Council and a number of other local authorities, as well as from commercial revenue streams. Post-event evaluation work is also ongoing but not yet complete. This work is being led by Cycling World Championships Ltd, the delivery body. Once the evaluation work is complete, Cycling World Championships Ltd will publish evaluation outcomes. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. 

An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA applies to a small of the information you have requested. Information is exempt under section 29(1)(a) if It relates to the formulation or development of government policy.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release in the interests of open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining a safe space for officials to have honest discussions about new policy and different policy options, and to assess potential impacts before submitting advice to Ministers for decision. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. 

An exemption under Section 30(c) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. Information is exempt under Section 30(c) if the disclosure would otherwise prejudice substantially, or be likely to prejudice substantially, the effective conduct of public affairs. In this instance the information being released to the public would put Scotland at a disadvantage for future major event bids.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release in the interests of open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in stakeholders feeling able to share private and/ or sensitive information with officials and know that their confidence is being maintained, and for officials to be able to discuss the impact of that intelligence. This in turn can help officials provide clear and robust advice to Ministers. It is also in the public interest for in order to be able to bid for and successfully host major events. Major events contribute to Scotland’s economy, support our standing on the international stage, and bring more visitors to Scotland. Sporting major events also provide an opportunity for Scottish athletes to complete in front of a home crowd and can also contribute to general sporting uptake in the population which has a wide range of benefits. On balance we have concluded that the potential negative impact on Scotland’s likelihood of hosting future major and mega events as a result of releasing this information outweighs the benefits of release. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

An exemption under section 38(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. Information is exempt under section 38(1)(b) if It is personal data of a third party, i.e. the names and contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998. 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.

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.

FOI 202300377420 - Information Released - ANNEX B

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