Islands Bonds consultation costs: FOI release

Information requested

"A full breakdown of the cost of the Island Bond consultation process, including estimated cost of staff time, travel, accommodation, and any other costs incurred".

Response

The answer to your question is provided in the table below.

Cost	Value
Publishing Costs	£1522
Translation Costs	£3381
Staffing (Temporary member of staff hired to review consultation responses ahead of publication)	£2116
Analysis of consultation responses and production of final report (contracted out to Griesbach and Associates)	£18,240
Workshop venue hire, catering, and advertisement (costs covered by Scottish Islands Federation)	£1340
Travel and Subsistence costs	£9590
TOTAL	£36189

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 applies under section 17(1) of FOISA.

As part of your request, you asked for estimated cost of staff time. There is no business requirement for officials to record the time spent on tasks relating to the consultation, or their work more generally. These tasks are completed as part of their normal duties along with other tasks appropriate to their role as a civil servant. Given we do not hold details of the time spent by individuals undertaking these tasks, we are unable to provide the total costs that you have specified. However, we have provided you with a breakdown of all other costs associated with the Islands Bond Consultation.

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.