Image source, PA MediaJohn Swinney visited Boston for Scotland’s opening game in the World Cup
ByAngus CochraneSenior political journalist, BBC Scotland
John Swinney has defended the use of more than £45,000 of public funds on business-class flights for him and two senior aides to the World Cup.
The first minister flew to Boston on 11 June for Scotland’s opening match, before taking part in trade talks in Kentucky three days later.
While he and two senior officials travelled business class, Sports Minister Maree Todd and several other officials went to the US on significantly cheaper economy-class flights.
Swinney insisted the government had sought to “minimise” costs, while Justice Secretary Neil Gray defended the business class flights as a means of ensuring ministers “arrive fresh” when they travel overseas.
In total, the government spent £98,442 on trips for Swinney, Todd and their officials to the US, including flights, hotels and expenses.
Flights for Swinney and his private secretary John Webster cost £17,893 each.
Business-class tickets for the first minister’s special adviser Colin McAllister cost £9,864.
The government spent a further £11,800 on economy-class flights for several officials accompanying Swinney, as well as more than £10,000 on car hire for the first minister’s visit.
The cost of plane tickets for Todd and four accompanying officials to visit Miami for Scotland’s final game was £5,485.
The Scottish government’s travel rules, external state that business-class flights should only be used on flights of more than 10 hours “unless otherwise agreed”.
Direct flights from Edinburgh to Boston typically last about seven hours.
Swinney told BBC Scotland News: “Obviously, when flights have got to be booked, when there’s intense pressure on the time involved, then the costs are likely to be higher.”
He added: “We tried to minimise those costs.”
Image source, PA MediaMaree Todd visited Miami for three days to watch Scotland play their third World Cup game
Earlier, Justice Secretary Neil Gray defended the use of business-class flights.
He told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast: “These are busy trips for ministers and it is right that they are able to arrive fresh, they’re able to arrive in a way that means that they’re able to participate and do their work immediately, so I think that’s a proportionate use.”
Gray pointed to benefits of the trip, such as increasing Scotland’s “soft-power reach and the ability to make significant international connections”.
He added: “It was right that the first minister and his team were there to participate and to be part of that.”
Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn, speaking at the BBC’s Scotcast live show at the Edinburgh Festival, also defended Swinney.
He said: “If we want our politicians to go and sit in row 46 beside the toilets and then land in Boston and then go and engage with US government officials having done so we’ll get exactly what we deserve as politicians.”
Releasing the travel expenses, the government said the US trips were made to support the national team at the World Cup as well as to hold talks on trade, tourism, culture and investment.
Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr said: “Nobody begrudged SNP ministers joining the Tartan Army to cheer on Scotland men’s team at their first World Cup appearance in nearly three decades, but in typical SNP fashion costs were never kept under control.
“Swinney and his ministerial colleague were clearly happy to escape all the challenges facing them back home, but they should have met these significant costs out of their own pocket.”
