First Minister’s Christmas Media Reception: FOI release

Information requested

Regarding the First Minister’s Christmas Media Reception, held at Bute House last night 14/12/23:

A number of civil servants could be overheard discussing being "asked to go and buy booze at the last minute".

Was alcohol or "booze" always going to be served at the Christmas Media Reception?

If not, when was it decided it would be served?

Where and when was the alcohol/"booze" purchased?

Where would it normally be purchased? What was the difference in price had it be purchased in the normal way?

How many carrier bags were bought to transport the alcohol?

What method of transport was used by the civil servants going to "buy the booze"?

If a Scottish Government vehicle was used, can you provide the rules regarding use of Scottish Government vehicles. How many civil servants went to "buy the booze"?

What is their grade and their respective pay?

How long did it take them?

How many members of the media were invited to the First Minister’s Christmas Media Reception?

How many members of the media advised they would be attending?

How many members of the media actually attended?

How many civil servants were in attendance either to work or to network?

A breakdown by department: Private Office, Communications, Special Advisors etc.

When was the last time the First Minister was in work and not working remotely?

Why did the Deputy First Minister not deputise for the First Minister at the event?

Why was the First Minister’s Christmas Media Reception not postponed until a later date to allow the First Minister to attend?

Does the First Minister just not want to meet media?

How many media interviews with the First Minister were cancelled this week?

How long have they been waiting for the interviews? Date when first requested.

Response

1. Was alcohol or "booze" always going to be served at the Christmas Media Reception?
2. If not, when was it decided it would be served?

No information is held on when a decision to serve alcohol was made.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

3. Where and when was the alcohol/"booze" purchased?

The alcoholic refreshments were purchased on Thursday 14 December at Lidl Supermarket, Broughton, Edinburgh.

4. Where would it normally be purchased?

Where refreshments are served as part of official hospitality they can be provided by the caterer, or purchased by civil servants as part of the wider event organisation.

5. What was the difference in price had it be purchased in the normal way?

Costs of refreshments for official hospitality vary from event to event. The cost of the purchased alcohol was as follows:

• California Malbec 1 bottle at £5.29 per bottle
• Savingnon Blanc 4 bottles at £4.88 per bottle
• Chenin Blanc 1 bottle at £4.88 per bottle
• Rose wine 3 bottles at £5.49 per bottle
• 3 boxes of beer at £16.49 at per box
• 1 box of beer at £10.49 at per box

Red and white wine provided by the SG catering contractor is priced at £17.85 per bottle.

Costs of alcohol purchased for official receptions have been recently released in FOIs, and are available here:

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks cost at Bute House: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Breakdown of alcohol spending for Bute House: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Breakdown of Government spending on alcohol by type: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

6. How many carrier bags were bought to transport the alcohol?

Five carrier bags were purchased to transport refreshments, shown on the receipt submitted by the civil servant showing the cost of the refreshments These have not been paid for by Scottish Government and have been retained by the civil servant who purchased the refreshments.

7. What method of transport was used by the civil servants going to "buy the booze"?

I can confirm a car owned by the civil servant who volunteered to purchase the refreshments was used to travel to and from Lidl.

8. If a Scottish Government vehicle was used, can you provide the rules regarding use of Scottish Government vehicles.

See above. No Scottish Government vehicle was used.

9. How many civil servants went to "buy the booze"?

We are aware of one civil servant purchasing the refreshments.

10. What is their grade and their respective pay?

The relevant civil servant is a C1 Grade civil servant. The pay range for C1 civil servants is between £54,973 and £68,540.

11. How long did it take them?

We do not hold this information.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

12. How many members of the media were invited to the First Minister’s Christmas Media Reception?

Invitations were issued to 61 people for the media reception.

13. How many members of the media advised they would be attending?

Emails were received from 34 guests indicating they would be attending.

14. How many members of the media actually attended?

I can confirm that a total of 24 invited guests attended.

For your information, the guest list showing those who attended the reception will be proactively published three months in arrears here Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

15. How many civil servants were in attendance either to work or to network?

A breakdown by department: Private Office, Communications, Special Advisors etc. A small number of civil servants attended the reception to engage with the invited guests.

4 staff members from Communications Division attended the reception.

2 staff members from Ministerial Private Offices Division attended the reception.

5 Special Advisers attended the reception.

2 Visits and Events team members were in attendance.

Staff responsible for the coordination of services at Bute House were also at work as normal on the day of the event.

16. When was the last time the First Minister was in work and not working remotely?

As was reported widely in the media, the First Minister was unwell on Thursday 14 December, and Ms Robison stood in for him at First Minister’s Questions on that day.

Public engagements for the First Minister are proactively published here Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

This is a formal notice that Section 27(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption allows public authorities to refuse to disclose information if they already plan to publish it within the next 12 weeks.

17. Why did the Deputy First Minister not deputise for the First Minister at the event?
18. Why was the First Minister’s Christmas Media Reception not postponed until a later date to allow the First Minister to attend?
19. Does the First Minister just not want to meet media?

The Minister for Parliamentary Business hosted the reception, and welcomed media representatives to this longstanding annual event.

No information is held on any consideration of postponing the event.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

20. How many media interviews with the First Minister were cancelled this week? How long have they been waiting for the interviews? Date when first requested.

As was reported widely in the media, the First Minister was unwell during the week of the reception.

Two media interviews scheduled for Tuesday 12 December were cancelled. The requests for these interviews were submitted on 29 November 2023 and 06 December 2023.