Target for reducing the number of civil servants information: FOI release

Information requested

On 30th September 2025 Shona Robison appeared before the Finance and Public Administration Committee. She was asked about the target for reducing the number of civil servants, and said this:

“So for example we need to lead by example and there have been changes made in Director, DG territory, to make sure that we can’t ask others to do things that the top level of civil service is not prepared to do itself. So there’s been a reduction in the number there in order to lead by example.”

Please provide the full details of the changes/reductions mentioned by Shona Robison at the top level of the civil service.

Response

I enclose a copy of the information you requested, showing a change in our SCS workforce between June 2024 and June 2025. Further information on our wider workforce is available here Scottish Government workforce information - gov.scot

SG Core - Workforce FTE and Headcount by Grade
	Jun-24		Jun-25
	FTE	Headcount	FTE	Headcount	Percentage change in FTE
Deputy Director	211	220	193	200	-8.6%
Director	58	59	50	52	-13.0%
Director General	8	8	8	8	0.0%
Permanent Secretary	1	1	1	1	0.0%
SCS Total	278	288	252	261	-9.2%

In September 2025, the Director General (DG) Strategy and External Affairs and Director General Exchequer areas were brought together to form a new DG Exchequer, Strategy and Performance office, under a single Director General Position, resulting in a reduction of 1 in the DG headcount/FTE. This change is one of the elements the Cabinet Secretary for Finance was referring to in relation to reductions in senior leadership numbers.

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