The Scotland Office spend using Royal Mail was £7,199 in 2007-08 and £13,476 in 2008-09. The Office was not required to top-up its franking machine in London during 2007-08, which significantly reduced the overall costs.
The Scotland Office also incurred Royal Mail costs of £6,718,002 in relation to the posting of candidates’ free mailing and the delivery of poll cards for the Scottish Parliament election in 2007-08. In 2008-09 the Scotland office incurred Royal Mail postage costs for two Westminster by-elections totalling £147,475.