Scottish Government total operating costs budget and staffing: FOI release

Information requested

1. The total operational budget of Scottish Government in the Financial Years a) 2022/23, b) 2023/24, and c) 2024/25.

2. The total headcount of Scottish Government in the Financial Years a) 2022/23, b) 2023/24, and c) 2024/25.

3. The total FTE number of staff employed by Scottish Government in the Financial Years a) 2022/23, b) 2023/24, and c) 2024/25.

4. The FTE number of staff in the Financial Year 2024/25 earning salaries over a) £50,000, b) £80,000 and c) £100,000.

You provided some specifics on the format in which you would like to receive the response.

Response

1. The figures provided relate to Total Operating Costs Budget. The total operating costs for the Scottish Government comprise portfolio operating costs, which include all the core Scottish Government staff and associated operating costs incurred directly by each portfolio, and corporate running costs which are more efficient to run centrally such as digital, estates, procurement, finance, legal services, and HR. In line with public service reform, central services are also provided for over thirty public bodies out with the core Scottish Government.

	Total operational budget (£m)
2022/23	£706
2023/24	£765
2024/25	£798

​​​​​​​2. The data requested can be found as part of our published workforce statistics Scottish Government workforce information - gov.scot

3. The data requested can be found as part of our published workforce statistics Scottish Government workforce information - gov.scot

4. The requested data is provided below:

	FTE number of staff (at March 2025)
Over £50,000	4296
Over £80,000	982
Over £100,000	71

NB – the above data reflects employees ‘Working Grade’. Ie – where there are instances of Temporary Promotion, the above data reflects the more senior post.

About FOI

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.