Total annual expenditure on hospitality by the Scottish Government: FOI release

Information requested

I would like to request the following information regarding hospitality spending by the Scottish Government and its quangos over the last five financial years (2019-20 to 2023-24):

1. The total annual expenditure on hospitality, including but not limited to:

• Official receptions and networking events
• Catering for meetings and conferences
• Hotel accommodation for visiting officials or external guests
• Alcohol purchases for government-hosted events

2. A breakdown of the five highest-value hospitality events paid for by the Scottish Government or quangos in each of the last five years, including:

• The event name, purpose, and location
• The total cost
• The number of attendees

Response

Please see the below information in response to your request for the the total annual expenditure on hospitality by the Scottish Government:

2019-20: £624,652

2020-21: £95,643

2021-22: £98,375

2022-23: £291,784

2023-24: £380,648

It may be helpful to note that the Scottish Government publishes details of expenditure on hospitality on the Scottish Government website here:

• Government Expenditure: 2016-2023
• Government Expenditure: 2023-2024

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for in respect of a breakdown of the five highest value hospitality events during each year of the period cited above, as we do not record nor rank hospitality spend in this way. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

About FOI

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