Key facts
- First Minister John Swinney defended the use of over £45,000 in public funds for business-class flights for himself and two aides to attend the World Cup.
- Swinney and his private secretary's business-class tickets cost £17,893 each, and a special adviser's ticket cost £9,864.
- Sports Minister Maree Todd and other officials traveled economy class on significantly cheaper flights.
- The total cost for Swinney's US trips, including flights, hotels, and expenses, was £98,442.
- Scottish government rules generally permit business-class travel only on flights exceeding 10 hours, while direct flights to Boston are approximately seven hours.
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has defended the expenditure of over £45,000 in public funds for business-class flights for himself and two senior aides to attend the World Cup in Boston and engage in trade talks in Kentucky. While Swinney and his aides traveled business class, Sports Minister Maree Todd and several other officials opted for significantly cheaper economy-class flights.
Swinney stated that the government had made efforts to "minimise" costs, attributing higher expenses to time pressures associated with booking flights. Justice Secretary Neil Gray supported the decision, arguing that business-class travel allows ministers to "arrive fresh" and be immediately productive for "proportionate use" during busy overseas trips. He also highlighted the trips' value in enhancing Scotland's "soft-power reach" and fostering international connections.
In total, the government spent £98,442 on the US trips for Swinney, Todd, and their accompanying officials, covering flights, hotels, and expenses. Specifically, Swinney and his private secretary each had tickets costing £17,893, while a special adviser's business-class ticket was £9,864. The government also incurred £11,800 for economy flights for other officials and over £10,000 for car hire. Flights for Todd and four officials to Miami for the final game cost £5,485.
The Scottish government's travel policy generally permits business-class flights for journeys exceeding 10 hours, unless otherwise agreed. However, direct flights from Edinburgh to Boston typically last about seven hours. Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr criticized the spending, suggesting that ministers were prioritizing comfort over cost control and should have funded the trips personally.