Departing SNP Minister Mairi Gougeon incurred a significant £33,000 bill during a Scottish Government-funded trip to Chile. The trip aimed to promote Scotland’s aquaculture sector and enhance international agreements. Despite initial cost estimates, the real expenses revealed a much higher total, raising questions about value for taxpayer money during financially challenging times for the Scottish Government.
A recent junket to Chile undertaken by departing SNP Minister Mairi Gougeon has attracted controversy due to the substantial £33,000 bill accrued during the trip. This two-week visit, aimed at enhancing a memorandum of understanding signed with Chile at COP26 and promoting Scotland at AquaSur, included two accompanying officials. Despite the Scottish Government’s financial constraints, the journey was funded by taxpayers.
The Scottish Government initially reported the ministerial cost as £7,880, excluding the expenses incurred by the accompanying officials. Upon further examination dictated by freedom of information requests, the actual total expenditure for the visit skyrocketed to £25,075.71 for the official travel, combined with £8,186 for Gougeon’s ministerial costs. Furthermore, she incurred additional expenses from a subsequent trip to Barcelona, totaling £3,028, with her officials adding £1,023.17.
Gougeon, who has been an MSP for a decade, announced her intention to stand down in the next Holyrood election. Notably, her tenure as Rural Affairs Secretary has seen significant discontent among fishermen and farmers due to disputed funding decisions. This visit to Chile coincided with challenging financial circumstances for the Scottish Government, marked by drastic funding cuts and a highly criticized budget under Humza Yousaf’s administration.
Scottish Tory Deputy Leader Rachael Hamilton criticized the spending, questioning the appropriateness of such a costly overseas trip, given that foreign affairs is a matter reserved for Westminster. She highlighted that such expenses should be scrutinized, asserting that SNP ministers ought to prioritize responsible budgeting over international travel.
The Scottish Government, however, has defended the expenses, emphasizing the importance of international engagement in promoting Scotland’s economy. They highlighted Gougeon’s participation at AquaSur, where innovative Scottish businesses were represented, and her discussions with aquaculture ministers from both Norway and Chile. The trip was also focused on advocating for sustainable practices in the aquaculture industry, significant to Scotland’s economy, which boasts a £1.8 billion valuation from this sector.
A government spokesperson reiterated that promoting economic growth is crucial, and participation in significant international events is a fitting representation of Scotland’s interests. They noted Gougeon’s discussions about environmental sustainability aligning with Scotland’s environmental commitments established during COP26.
The recent trip to Chile by Mairi Gougeon highlights the tension between international engagements and financial accountability within the Scottish Government. While the Scottish Tories criticize the exorbitant expenses as unjustifiable, the government defends its approach as essential for economic promotion. This incident underlines the need for careful consideration of public resources and a strategic approach to overseas engagements by government officials.
Original Source: www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk
