Cost incurred by producing the publication “Kinloch Castle Study: Final Report”: EIR release

Information requested

1. The total cost incurred by the Scottish Government in producing the publication “Kinloch Castle Study: Final Report” (published 8 May 2025).

Please include:

• Total internal staff costs (e.g., RESAS time or other departments)
• Any external consultancy, research or analytical services commissioned
• Any expenses, travel, data acquisition or other associated costs
• Any procurement references (contract numbers, suppliers, or invoices) where applicable

2. If no single total cost figure exists, please provide the breakdown of all identifiable costs associated with producing this report.

Response

The cost incurred by the Scottish Government to produce the Kinloch Castle Study: Final Report totalled £31,220. The total figure is comprised of Scottish Government internal costs, external costs in relation consultancy/analytical work and other expenses incurred in the production of the Kinloch Castle Study: Final Report.

In regards to your request for a list of procurement references for any contracted work associated with the production of the Kinloch Castle Study: Final Report, an exception under regulation 10(5)(e) of the EIRs (prejudice to confidentiality of commercial information) applies to the information you have requested. This exception applies because disclosure of this particular information, in this instance contractual details including references and the names of suppliers who provided work associated with the above noted Final Report, would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the confidentiality of commercial information provided by the suppliers and thus cause substantial harm to their commercial interests.

This exception 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 exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open and transparent government, and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of companies which tender for Scottish Government contracts, to ensure that we are always able to obtain the best value for public money.

Wider guidance on the Environmental Information regime can be found in the Key Concepts section under ‘Information Not Held’ and ‘The Public Interest Test’ in the attached Scottish Information Commissioner Briefings and Guidance document.Further guidance on the public interest test can also be found on page 8 of the Scottish Information Commissioner guidance.

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.