International offices in Europe: FOI release

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002


Information requested

In relation to all information relating to the Scottish Embassies throughout Europe.

  • Why are these needed?
  • What are they used for?
  • Why are we wasting tax payer money on these?
  • How much of tax payer money has been used to fund these useless Embassies?

Response

1 & 2. Scotland’s international network creates domestic opportunities, broadens our horizons, attracts investment and ultimately benefits the people of Scotland. Our international network and the people that work within it help further Scotland’s economic, cultural and policy visibility in key countries. The work of our offices includes:-

  • improving Scotland’s international profile
  • attracting investment
  • helping businesses to trade internationally
  • promoting and securing research and innovation capability, partnerships and funding
  • facilitating cultural exchanges and events
  • protecting and enhancing Scotland’s interests in the EU and beyond

4. The budgets for the International Offices in Europe, since opening by year format, is listed below.

Location

2017-2018

£000

2018-2019

£000

2019-2020

£000

2020-2021

£000

2021-2022

£000

2022-2023

£000

Paris, France

 

500

545

558

556

659

Dublin, Ireland

 

350

541

572

596

593

Berlin, Germany

 

300

549

549

555

572

Brussels, Belgium

1,139

1,639

2,079

2,088

2,310

2,467

London, England

 

1,650

1,995

2,041

2,197

2,180

Copenhagen, Denmark

 

 

 

 

 

598

  • 2017-18 was the first year in which the Brussels Office had a separate budget line, it was previously funded from within a larger budget and was not accounted for separately.
  • Prior to 2018-19 the budgets for London, Dublin and Berlin (while these offices were being established) were not identified separately. They were funded from within a larger budget line and were not accounted for separately.

In 2022-23 our network of international offices will account for around 0.02% of the Scottish Government’s overall spending plans.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

Contact

Please quote the FOI reference
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000

The Scottish Government
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

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