This is how much it cost the Scottish Government to send its Covid-19 leaflet to everyone in Scotland

The Scottish Government spent exactly £513,467 on a nationwide postal information campaign designed to inform the public about coronavirus last month.

Every household in Scotland received a copy of a letter written by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, as well as a six-page leaflet outlining the help that was available from government agencies and charities.

A freedom of information (FOI) request, answered by the Scottish Government yesterday (Monday, May 18), showed that the half-a-million pound fee equated to just 20p per household.

The Scottish government spent exactly £513,467 on a nationwide postal information campaign designed to inform the public about coronavirus last month. | JPIMedia

In the original request, an anonymous member of the public commended the government for sending the leaflet, but added: “I feel that after five weeks of the lockdown where there has been information given out on the news, television adverts, government briefings, newspaper adverts, internet and emails.

“Could the cash spent on producing these letters/leaflets not be better spent on more urgent requirements to help those in separate need at this time?” they asked.

“Through the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to know the cost of producing the leaflets,” the request concluded.

In its response to the FOI, the Scottish Government said there were “a number of key reasons” behind decision to launch the postal campaign, including:

Every household in Scotland received a copy of a letter written by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, as well as a six-page leaflet outlining the help that was available from government agencies and charities. | JPIMedia

1. To provide the level of additional information that cannot be covered in a TV advert or is not included in news reporting. This is especially important for those who are not able to get online to access additional information.

2. To signpost where people can get additional support with a range of issues as a result of coronavirus.

3. To further reinforce the changes that the Scottish Government is asking people to make to their lives.

4. To provide each home with a document that clearly sets out the approach to household isolation.

In the letter sent to households in early April, the First Minister implored people to follow lockdown restrictions, insisting that “this is not forever.”

“We will get through it. The time will come when normality returns,” Ms Sturgeon wrote.

The letter also included a timeline diagram that explained how long people should self-isolate if they, or someone they lived with developed Covid-19 symptoms.

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