FOI - Christmas party funding

Published •

Ref No.: 16 25
Request Type: FOI
Date Received: 26/11/25
Date Responded: 27/11/25
Category:  Christmas party funding

Request

I have familiarised myself with the Scottish Government's FOI/202000110616 regarding staff Christmas parties, and I am aware that it is not Scottish Government policy to pay social events from public funds.

However, as a public body, could you tell me, is your Christmas party funded by staff, or the organisation? Has this changed in the past 2 years? Has this been at the request of Scottish Government?

I am not requesting a cost breakdown as part of my request, just the status of its funding.  

Response

Many thanks for your request for information dated 26 November 2025 which asked about Christmas party funding arrangements.

We have handled your request in line with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). FOISA provides for a right of access to recorded information held by Scottish public authorities.

We disclose the following information to you in response to your request:

Ref
Question
Response
1 Is WICS Christmas party funded by staff or the organisation? Staff
2 Has funding been changed in the last two years? No
3 Has any change of funding been at the request of the Scottish Government? Not applicable (see response to Q2).

If you are unhappy with this response to your request, you may ask us to carry out a review by contacting us.  Your request for review should explain why you are dissatisfied and should be made within 40 working days of receipt of this response.  The review will be undertaken by staff not involved in the original process and we will reply within 20 working days of receipt.  

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC) and thereafter to the Court of Session on a point of law only.  The SIC can be contacted using the details below:

Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road
St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Web: www.foi.scot 

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