Staff remuneration costs and number of staff who worked on Operation Unicorn: FOI release

Information requested

I would like to know the staff remuneration costs and number of staff who worked on Operation Unicorn in the Scottish Government over the past two years, in particular, the Protocol and Honours Team. I would also like to know if the staff costs of the Protocol and Honours team as well as the staff numbers in that team will reduce given Operation Unicorn has been completed and the Coronation will be a less expensive event given the cost of living crisis and also having regard to the cutbacks in the Lord Lieutenants' budgets (see below). How are the Scottish Government going to reduce costs in line with other reductions they have made to other areas relating to the monarchy see link:

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/john-swinney-unveiled-plan-slash-28045291

Response

The Scottish Government does not hold records of the permanent Scottish Government staffing costs associated with Operation Unicorn. No assessment of permanent Scottish Government staffing costs has been made as no member of staff within the Scottish Government was employed specifically to work on Operation Unicorn. Instead, a number of staff, across various disciplines, had Operation Unicorn responsibilities within their job description.

Likewise, the Scottish Government does not hold records regarding the number of staff who worked on Operation Unicorn as this number varied during the period of planning and delivery, and a number of staff, across various disciplines, had Operation Unicorn responsibilities within their job description.

Within this financial year, some staff have been engaged on a fixed-term basis to assist with planning for activation of the Operation, including the internal Scottish Government response and arrangements for the Lying-at-Rest queue, at a total cost of £31,000.

In the period since activation, those temporary staff have left the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government continues to ensure that staffing levels in all departments, including Protocol and Honours, reflect workload and priorities and take cognisance of changes in context and level of risk.

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