Information regarding cost and numbers of received FOI requests: FOI release

Information requested

How much would each Calendar day cost for a FOI request” to narrow the scope of your previous request which asked for “A copy of all FOI done to the Scottish government and there reply’s since legislation has been passed”. In addition you asked separately “Is there a maximum amount of FOI 1 person can have at a single time?

Response

In order to reply your correspondence I have taken each question in turn and provided a response to each separately.

Part 1 - “How much would each Calendar day cost for a FOI request?"

I am interpreting ‘FOI request’ to include all requests for information under the legislation of FoI(S)A and the regulations of the EIRs including initial requests for information and requests for review where an expression of dissatisfaction has been raised.

The only cost associated with responding to such requests is the cost of the staff time involved.

Colleagues from across the Scottish Government undertake a number of duties as Civil Servants, including responding to FOI/EIR requests. All colleagues may be expected to respond to FOI/EIR requests as part of their role, and as time sheets are not a business requirement, we do not hold details of the time spent by individuals undertaking these tasks and subsequently are unable to provide the total cost figure per calendar day.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FoI(S)A that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

Part 2 - “Is there a maximum amount of FOI 1 person can have at a single time?"

There is no limit on the number of requests an individual may submit to a public authority. Requesters may wish to take care that any individual request or a collection of requests submitted in a short space of time is not viewed as vexatious. There is further guidance regarding vexatious requests in the advice Briefing Section 14 Vexatious or Repeated Requests.pdf (foi.scot) on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s (OSIC) website.

I can also recommend to you further useful guidance on the Commissioner’s website about making requests: What can I ask for? | Scottish Information Commissioner (foi.scot) and How do I ask for information? | Scottish Information Commissioner (foi.scot) specifically the sections ‘Clearly ask for information’, ‘Keep FOI separate’ & ‘Be specific’.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.