Cost of First Minister's trip to France for D-Day commemorations: FOI release

Information requested

A full breakdown of the costs of John Swinney heading to France for D-Day commemoration, including money spent on civil servants and people who accompanied him.

Response

The First Minister represented the people of Scotland at national commemorations honouring the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in both the UK and France. On 5th June 2024, the First Minister attended the main UK ceremony in Portsmouth, to celebrate the work of UK and other forces at the port city from which the Allies left for the beaches of Normandy. The First Minister then attended the first ever National Commemoration ceremony to be held at the British War Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France on 6th June 2024, to pay tribute to all who served in the Normandy Campaign.

Further details of the Scottish Government involvement in events to mark 80th anniversary of D-Day can be found on the Scottish Government website.

The full costs including costs incurred by accompanying officials are:

Travel from Portsmouth to Paris: £1,223.98
Vehicle hire/costs within France: €2,692
Accommodation: £678.80
Travel from Paris to Glasgow: £380.98

An exemption under section 39(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, endanger the health or the safety of an individual.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government. However, there is a greater public interest in ensuring the health and safety of individuals.

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