Scottish Government Ministers overseas trips: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for:

1) Since May 2016, on how many occasions have Scottish Government ministers taken trips overseas?

2) In relation to Q1, what method of transport did they use? Please specify aircraft type where applicable.

3) In relation to Q1, what class did they travel in?

4) On how many occasions, if any, did the Scottish Government use a private jet for overseas travel?

In respect of question 4, on 17 April 2025 you clarified that private jets were taken to mean any plane which would not be readily available to the public for commercial flights, and which is used by Ministers and government officials for travel. You also clarified for question 4 that the time period of interest was May 2016 to the present, and that the scope of the question was Scottish Government Ministers only.

Response

Question 1

Your request stated “since May 2016” for which I have taken to mean from the commencement of the 5th session of the Scottish Parliament, on 16 May 2016.

The type of information you have requested is released regularly by the Scottish Government on its website at Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scot. The information published to date covers the period May 2016 to December 2024. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the websites listed below, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

In addition, we are unable to provide some of the information. Under section 27(1) of FOISA we do not have to give you information that is due to be published within 12 weeks. The details of Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts for January and February 2025 will be published at the link above.

Between 1 March and 9 April 2025, Ministers travelled overseas on four occasions.

Question 2

Between 16 May 2016 and 31 March 2018, Ministers travelled overseas mainly by air. Rail was used on four occasions.

Some of the information you have requested is not held. Personal information contained in records relating to journeys taken between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2024 has been deleted in accordance with recordkeeping practice, such that individuals, including Ministers, cannot be identified. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that we do not hold this information.

Between 1 April 2024 and 9 April 2025, Ministers travelled overseas mainly by air. Rail was used for one engagement.

When Ministers travel on flights available to the public, the type of aircraft operated by an airline is not recorded. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that we do not hold this information.

Question 3

Between 16 May 2016 and 31 March 2018, when travelling overseas by air, Ministers travelled mainly in economy class. Business class was used on four occasions; First class was used on one occasion; Premium Economy was used on two occasions. When travelling overseas by rail, Ministers travelled in standard class.

For the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2024, the information you have requested is not available, for the reason given in my explanation for question 2 above regarding deletion of records. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that we do not hold that information.

Between 1 April 2024 and 9 April 2025 when travelling overseas by air, Ministers travelled mainly in economy class. Business class was used on four occasions. For one Ministerial engagement the class of travel was not specified, and is therefore not held. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that we do not hold that information.

Question 4

In the period 16 May 2016 to 9 April 2025, Ministers did not use any private jets.

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.