Hospitality policy
Published: 20 December 2024Freedom of information class: About Registers of Scotland
RoS Hospitality Policy
Table of contents
1. Purpose and scope
1.1 This policy sets out RoS stance on whether hospitality can be accepted or offered.
1.2 This policy applies to all colleagues.
1.3 This policy covers accepting hospitality and gifts, alcohol consumption and purchase, and providing hospitality.
2. Guiding principles
2.1 The principles of the policy are to help colleagues answer the following questions in relation to accepting or offering hospitality: Will it help the business and our corporate objectives?
- Will accepting place an obligation on you, colleagues and RoS?
- Could your acceptance be perceived as affecting your ability to uphold The Seven Principles of Public Life or your ability to display the highest standards of honesty, integrity, impartiality and objectivity?
- Is the hospitality frequent, lavish or prolonged?
- Could it be challenged by the Scottish Parliament or the media?
- Do the risks outweigh the benefits?
3. The policy
Accepting hospitality
3.1 RoS recognises that at times colleagues will be offered hospitality. Hospitality should only be accepted if it can be justified and satisfies the principles outlined above. It should never be accepted if it will in any way potentially damage the reputation of RoS or compromise an individual. If in doubt you should consult your line manager.
3.2 All hospitality must be approved in advance by a relevant colleague and details submitted to RoS secretariat to be recorded and published on the hospitality register, including where the hospitality is declined.
3.3 Invitations to events such as the theatre or sporting events are not acceptable and should be declined. Meals provided as part of packaged conferences or working lunches are not deemed as hospitality.
3.4 The register is published internally and externally for full transparency.
Providing hospitality
3.5 All levels of hospitality offered should be appropriate to the size and scale of the event and for an organisation within the civil service. If the hire of a venue is required avoid 5-star or luxury venues.
3.5.1 Organisations making bookings on RoS’ behalf should be made aware of this.
3.6 On the rare occasions when alcohol is provided either in one of our buildings or externally, approval must be given by a member of EMT in advance. The quantity of alcohol offered should not be excessive and appropriate for the numbers attending.
3.7 Where catering is required for meetings in RoS buildings this should be booked through the contracted caterer if possible. This is not considered hospitality. Where no in-house caterer is available lunch may be purchased from an external vendor with prior approval using the appropriate payment method. Again, it should be appropriate to the event and is not considered hospitality.
Gifts
3.8 Gifts with no re-sale value such as promotional items may be accepted and do not have to be recorded on the register.
3.8.1 Careful consideration should be given as to whether to accept or decline any gift. In most cases politely declining is advised and only in exceptional circumstances should they be accepted. Relevant approval must be sought if accepting gifts with a commercial value.
3.8.2 All gifts with a commercial value whether they are accepted or not should be recorded in the register.
4. Roles and responsibilities
4.1 EMT is responsible for the content of this policy, its approval and review. They are responsible for ensuring its implementation in practice and for monitoring this over time. They are responsible for ensuring that appropriate procedures, guidelines or standards as are required to support this are maintained and ownership for these assigned appropriately.
4.2 Further guidance covering the use of GPC can be found in Section 12 of the Finance manual.
4.3 This policy will be regularly reviewed along with the hospitality register and published internally.
5. Approval and review
5.1 This policy will be reviewed and approved by PPG and ARC annually.
| Author | Head of External Communications & Engagement | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Reviewed | Head of Communications & Engagement | ||
| Cleared | Director for Customer & Business Development | ||
| Approval | EMT | Approval date | December 2024 |
| Policy version | V 2.0 | ||
| Review responsibility | EMT | Review date | December 2025 |
| Suitable for publication | Yes | ||
| Contact | secretariat@ros.gov.uk | ||