COVID-19 Student testing rollout and marketing costs: FOI release

Information requested

In relation to lateral flow testing made available to students (detailed here: https://www.gov.scot/news/guidance-for-students-returning-home/), please provide me the total cost of the testing rollout to the Scottish Government.

2) Please, if possible, break this down by the following categories.
2a) Rent cost for testing site venues.
2b) Cost of initial set up of the testing site including testing equipment and other equipment.
2c) Staffing cost.
2d) Cost of marketing material or promotions undertaken by your organisation in relation to this rollout of testing (including but not limited to social media adverts, TV adverts, and radio adverts).
2e) Other costs otherwise not listed, please provide a breakdown if possible.

Response

Cost of Marketing
Information in relation to the rollout of lateral flow testing has formed one aspect of wider marketing activity promoting guidance for students during 2020-21, alongside information on for example restrictions, FACTS, financial support and travel. It isn’t possible for us to separate the costs for marketing activity specifically on lateral flow testing from this wider work as it is integrated.

The total cost of marketing activity on guidance for students in 2020-21 for this is £139,498.09.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the other information you have requested as the UK Department of Health and Social Care were responsible for those costs.

About FOI

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