Inquiry costs – Q1 2024/25
Inquiry costs
The total expenditure of the Inquiry for quarter one of the 2024-25 financial year was £4,231,200. The following table provides a breakdown of these costs, further details relating to each area are available underneath.
| Expenditure | Financial year to date | |
|---|---|---|
| Staff costs | £2,250,400 | £2,250,400 |
| Operational costs | £1,665,700 | £1,665,700 |
| Expenses, including witness expenses | £12,300 | £12,300 |
| Let’s Be Heard and other engagement | £41,600 | £41,600 |
| Inquiry legal services | £128,000 | £128,000 |
| Research and consultancy | £133,200 | £133,200 |
| Core participant fees | £0 | £0 |
| TOTAL | £4,231,200 | £4,231,200 |
Further breakdown and explanatory notes
Staff costs
The Inquiry’s Chief Executive is responsible and accountable for the overall administration and management of the Inquiry. The Inquiry includes teams responsible for facilitating hearings, conducting investigations, delivering the Inquiry’s public participation project, Let’s Be Heard, and managing the large volume of information received by the Inquiry.
Operational costs
These include items and services required by the Inquiry to conduct its work effectively.
Expenses, including witness expenses
These are costs incurred by witnesses to attend hearings, and by staff when travelling on Inquiry business.
Inquiry legal services
These costs encompass external legal advice provided to the Inquiry, including counsel.
Let's Be Heard and other engagement
Let’s Be Heard is the Inquiry’s public participation project. Other engagement refers to costs such as translating documents and guides to make them more widely accessible, maintaining the Inquiry website, distributing Inquiry news updates and producing explanatory videos.
Research and consultancy
This includes academic research commissioned by the Inquiry to assist its investigations and preparations for public hearings. It also covers external services, such as bereavement and listening support for people engaging with the Inquiry.
Core participant fees
These are fees paid to core participants’ legal representatives. As Scotland’s largest public inquiry, the Inquiry has a large number of core participants. In accordance with Section 40 of the Inquiries Act 2005, the Chair can grant funding for legal representation where this is deemed appropriate. Information about who is eligible to apply for funding and how such applications are considered is published in the Inquiry’s Funding Protocol for Legal Expenses.
Figures in this report
Some costs in this quarterly report may be subject to final adjustment in future, reflecting the final settlement of invoices and payments.