Social media information from the Accountant in Bankruptcy: FOI release

Information requested

1. Do you use a social media management platform?

2. If so, what tools do you use?

3. What is your annual spend on a Social media management tool?

4. What dates does your contract with your current supplier end (in the format of [month/year])?

5. Do you use a social listening / media monitoring platform?

6. If so, what tools do you use?

7. What is your annual spend on a social listening / media monitoring tool?

8. What dates does your contract with your current supplier end (in the format of [month/year])?

9. Who is the senior person responsible for managing these contracts?

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested:

1. No

2. N/A

3. N/A

4. N/A

5. Yes

6. Oneclusive track and manage media mentions and social activity, based on set criteria on behalf of the Accountant in Bankruptcy. Details of their services can be found on their website - Media Monitoring, Media Analysis & PR & Comms Tools - Onclusive

7. The Accountant in Bankruptcy license is derived from the Scottish Government Media Services Framework (Ref: SP-20-002). The total spend under this Framework will be published by the Framework owner, however we cannot disclose the Accountant in Bankruptcy specific license cost as this is commercially sensitive. Please see the explanation below.

8. Oneclusive hold a contract with Scottish Government: Scottish Government Media Services Framework (Ref: SP-20-002). This agreement runs from 1st September 2021 to 31st August 2025. Accountant in Bankruptcy pay an annual license fee as part of this contract and our current licence expires in August 2025.

9. The Chief Executive, Richard Dennis, is the senior official responsible for all public spend at the Accountant in Bankruptcy.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information at points 3) and 7) that you have requested because an exemption under section 33(1)(b) (Commercial Interests) of FOISA applies to that information. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of the of the current contracted supplier. Disclosing this information would be likely to significantly harm their commercial business.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release as part of open and transparent government and to help account for the expenditure of public money . However, this is outweighed by the public interest in the ability to procure and ensure that the Scottish Government can gain best value contracts consistently

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The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.