Trade hubs operated around the world and associated costs: FOI release

Information requested

1. A total list of trade hubs operated by the Scottish Government around the world and the associated costs therein. I would like the costs of each trade hub to be broken down by different areas such as staffing, sustenance, etc.
2. How much does Scotland trade with each of the countries in which the trade hubs are based. What value is attached to the trade with each of the countries listed?

Response

1. A total list of trade hubs operated by the Scottish Government around the world and the associated costs therein. I would like the costs of each trade hub to be broken down by different areas such as staffing, sustenance, etc.

I can confirm that the Scottish Government External Network of offices overseas are based in Brussels, Toronto, Ottawa, Beijing, Paris, Berlin, Dublin, Washington and London.  It should be noted that these offices do not only undertake trade work but are involved in a range of activity aimed at promoting Scottish interests overseas.”
For the financial year 2019-20, the budgets for each of the Scottish Government’s offices are included within the Scottish Government's published spending and tax plans for 2019 to 2020.  These are set out below, for your convenience, for the financial year 2019-20. 
These budgets cover the total delivery costs for each office, including all Scottish Government staffing, operating and activity undertaken.  In terms of staffing costs we are unable to provide a breakdown as this would breach DPA (Section 3) and GDPR (Article 4) rules on the release of third party personal data that could lead to individuals being identified.   
Financial year 2019-20:

• Belgium - £2,079,000
• Canada - £575,000 (NB: published budget represents both Canadian offices and is not shown separately)
• China - £553,000
• France - £545,000
• Germany - £555,000
• Ireland - £525,000
• USA - £807,000
• London - £1,965,000

2. How much does Scotland trade with each of the countries in which the trade hubs are based. What value is attached to the trade with each of the countries listed.

Section 25(1) of FOISA confirms that we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.  In this case the trade information you have asked for is publicly available via the HMRC Trade Data Statistics website.  You can also find details of Scotland’s export performance by accessing the annual Export Statistics Scotland (ESS) publication and by accessing the Export Performance Monitor produced to support the development of our new export growth plan A Trading Nation, which sets out Scottish Government’s export priorities

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