The SNP government has spent £1.7 million on flights in the last five years, it can be revealed today.
Freedom of Information requests by the Scottish Conservatives found that last year alone, over £500,000 was spent on domestic and international travel by Scottish Government staff on domestic and international travel on 1,766 flights.
It is believed to be a record amount of flights taken, although records are not available for all years.
Scottish Conservative transport spokeswoman Sue Webber said the SNP were often too “free spending” with taxpayers’ money and questioned if so many flights really provided “value for money”.
The new figures come just a few weeks after it was revealed that Neil Gray had taken several taxpayer-funded ministerial limos to watch his favourite football team, Aberdeen.
Scottish Conservative shadow transport secretary Sue Webber MSP said: “Hard-pressed Scots will question why SNP ministers have spent so much on flights in recent years.
“It is a classic example of the SNP being free spending with taxpayers’ money and comes soon after the scandal surrounding Neil Gray’s use of the ministerial limo to watch his favourite football team.
“Taking so many trips abroad shows the SNP are spending money on an issue which is clearly reserved to Westminster.
“We know that many of these journeys are used to promote the SNP’s obsession with Scottish independence, which clearly does not deliver value for money for taxpayers.
“SNP ministers should show some common sense and restrict the number of flights they are taking at a time when Scots are continuing to pay more and get less under them.”
Notes:
An FOI published on the Scottish Government website shows that:
Last year, the SNP Government wasted over £500,000 on domestic and international flights for Scottish Government staff. In 2023, Scottish Government staff went on 1,766 domestic and international flights, costing £508,863. It is believed to be a Scottish Government record high, although figures only go back to 2020 on the FOI. (Scottish Government, 12 November 2024, link).
In less than five years, the SNP Government wasted almost £1.5 million on domestic and international flights for Scottish Government staff. Since 2020 until October 2024 (the date of FOI received), Scottish Government staff have been on 5,363 flights, costing £1,486,937. According to the FOI, the information ‘does not include Ministerial travel because this information is either available publicly from Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts’. (Scottish Government, 12 November 2024, link).
As this does not include ‘Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts’, those publications show that:
Last year, SNP ministers wasted over £100,000 on domestic and international ministerial engagements. In 2023, MSPs went on various international and domestic flights, costing £112,768.43. This is a record high for ministerial trips. The exact number of flights is unknown as it does not make clear if return flights are direct or not. (Ministerial Engagements January 2020 – June 2024, Accessed 12 November 2024, link).
In less than five years, SNP ministers wasted over £250,000 on domestic and international ministerial engagements. From 2020 until June 2024 (the most recent publication), ministers went on various domestic and international ministerial engagements, costing £252.194.48. The exact number of flights is unknown as it does not make clear if return flights are direct or not. (Ministerial Engagements January 2020 – June 2024, Accessed 12 November 2024, link).
Therefore, this means that:
Last year, the SNP Government wasted over £600,000 on domestic and international flights for staff and ministers. In 2023, Scottish Government staff went on 1,766 domestic and international flights, costing £508,863. On the other hand, ministers went on various international and domestic flights, costing £112,768.43. This is a record high for ministerial trips. This takes the total cost to £621,631.43 in 2023.
In less than five years, the SNP Government wasted over £1.7 million on domestic and international flights for Scottish Government staff. Since 2020 until October 2024 (the date of the FOI received), Scottish Government staff have been on 5,363 flights, costing £1,486,937. On the other hand, ministers went on various international and domestic flights, costing £252,194.48. This takes the total cost to £1,739,131.48.
The Scottish Government wants to introduce a tax on all eligible passengers leaving UK airports. The Air Departure Tax would be Scotland’s planned replacement for Air Passenger Duty. However, the SNP have failed to agree an exemption for the Islands and Highlands from the Treasury, which has held up the plans. (Scottish Government, Accessed 27 November 2024, link).
Cost of domestic and international flights by Scottish Government staff:
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 (to date of request) |
|
Domestic |
£114,540 |
£38,453 |
£168,517 |
£243,997 |
£150,911 |
International |
£89,554 |
£24,620 |
£234,219 |
£264,866 |
£157,260 |
Total |
£204,094 |
£63,073 |
£402,736 |
£508,863 |
£308,171 |
(Scottish Government, 12 November 2024, link).
Number of domestic and international flights by Scottish Government staff:
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 (to date of request) |
|
Domestic |
569 |
179 |
776 |
1,026 |
673 |
International |
318 |
66 |
635 |
740 |
381 |
Total |
887 |
245 |
1,411 |
1,766 |
1,054 |
(Scottish Government, 12 November 2024, link).
Cost of domestic and international flights as stated in Ministerial Engagements:
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 (until June 2024) |
|
Domestic |
£1,094.29 |
£2,114 |
£12,484.67 |
£14,416.41 |
£5,409.28 |
International |
£5,315.37 |
£1,001.26 |
£84,918.49 |
£98,352.02 |
£27,088.69 |
Total |
£6,409.66 |
£3,115.26 |
£97,403.16 |
£112,768.43 |
£32,497.97 |
(Ministerial Engagements January 2020 – June 2024, Accessed 12 November 2024, link).