Costs of legal advice provided to special advisers for harassment inquiry: FOI release
- Published
- 21 April 2021
- Directorate
- People Directorate
- Topic
- Law and order, Public sector
- FOI reference
- FOI/202100158578
- Date received
- 16 February 2021
- Date responded
- 24 March 2021
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Information requested
The total cost, to date, of providing external legal services/advice to Scottish Government special advisers related to the Scottish Parliament's Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints. This should include all legal services related to the inquiry, such as providing personal legal advice to individuals, corresponding with the inquiry on spad's behalf, etc. Please provide one, single figure for all SG spads collectively.
Response
The answer to your question is that the cost (as of 16 February 2021) of legal advice provided to Scottish Government special advisers, related to the Scottish Parliament's Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints is £8,425.17 (excl VAT). In accordance with the Civil Service Management Code published by the Cabinet Office, civil servants involved in a formal inquiry as a consequence of their employment may be entitled to receive individual legal advice.
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.
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG