Scottish Government chauffeured cars: FOI release

Information requested

1. How does the Scottish Government contract with chauffeured cars for Ministers work? Is it a contract for a set period of time or is it dependant on mileage incurred? How much has been spent on this in the last year?
2. Who is authorised to use Scottish Government chauffeured cars? Ministers, Special Advisers, Scottish Government staff, any other individuals/organisations?
3. Do Scottish Government chauffeured cars use the electric charging points within the Scottish Parliament car park? If so, what has been the usage for the last 6 months and for the last year?

Response

We are able to provide some of the information you have requested, however an exemption applies to one aspect of your request.

The Government Car Service (GCS) is an operational unit within the Scottish Government, with all journey costs met within existing budgets. The overall cost of operating the service for 2022/23 was £1,377,987. GCS provides transport to members of the Scottish Cabinet and Ministers, Ministers of other UK Administrations when in Scotland, the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General and the Permanent Secretary.

While GCS vehicles do have access to the electric charge points within the Scottish Parliament garage, we do not hold records on the frequency of use, as the units are operated and managed by the Scottish Parliament.

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

However, you may wish to contact the Scottish Parliament at foi.officer@parliament.scot or alternatively by post:

The information Management and Governance Team
The Scottish Parliament
Holyrood
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

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.