Staff Christmas parties: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
FOI Reference: FOI/202500495879
Date received: 27 November 2025
Date responded: 18 December 2025
Information requested
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 an executive agency, 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
We can confirm that Social Security Scotland does not fund staff Christmas parties from public funds. Where staff choose to take part in Christmas events, these are funded by staff themselves. This has not changed over the last two years.
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