Resignations by special advisors working for the Scottish Government: FOI release

Information requested

Your request was as follows:

“May I request the following information under freedom of information legislation:

1. The number of resignations by special advisors working for the Scottish Government for the financial years of 16/17, 17/18, 18/19, 19/20 and the number so far in 20/21.

2. The reasons for these resignations.”

Response

I enclose a copy of the information you requested.

Year	No of resignations
2016/17	13*
2017/18	0
2018/19	1
2019/20	0
2020/21	1

* Resignations relating to the Scottish Parliament Election. As per the Special Adviser Model Contract all Special Advisers are required to resign in advance of a general election to the Scottish Parliament. You may wish to be aware that the Model Contract for Special Advisers is already publicly available on the Scottish Government website.

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 s.38.(1)(b) of FOISA applies to that information as the information is personal.

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.