Details regarding white paper on future independence referendum: FOI release

Information requested

Has a budget been allocated for the preparation of a white paper on a future Independence Referendum and cost of a referendum?

What are the estimated costs of bringing such a referendum to a conclusion?

How many civil servants will be allocated to this task?

Response

On 7 September 2021, the First Minister announced as part of the 2021/22 Programme for Government (PFG) that the Scottish Government will be restarting work on a detailed prospectus for an independent Scotland. Resources will be allocated through the normal budget process.

In answer to your first question, therefore, a budget has not been for allocated for those purposes.

In answer to your second and third questions, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we cannot do so as the Scottish Government is now determining how the activity announced in the PFG will proceed and the resourcing it requires.

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

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.