Overseas trips conducted by the First Minister: FOI release

Information requested

1. Overseas trips conducted by the first minister since 01 January 2024 including all countries visited on each trip.

2. The number of officials who accompanied the first minister on each trip.

3. The total cost of flights and accommodation for each trip, including for officials.

4. The class of flight tickets purchased and for whom.

Response

Question 1 and 2

Details of all Ministerial engagements are proactively published by the Scottish Government. This includes all the First Minister’s overseas trips and the number of officials who accompanied. This transparency data can be accessed via this weblink: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerialengagements-travel-and-gifts/

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 website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

This is a formal notice that Section 27(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. The information requested will be published within 12 weeks of your request and will be available at the link above. This exemption allows public authorities to refuse to disclose information if they already plan to publish it within the next 12 weeks. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Question 3

The information you have requested can be accessed using the below links:

France

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

Germany

• Costs relating to John Swinney's trip to Germany: FOI release - gov.scot
• Cost of First Minister and his team to attend the Euros 2024: FOI release - gov.scot
• Cost of First Minister's trip to Germany: FOI release - gov.scot

United States of America

• Tartan Day spend: FOI release - gov.scot

Details of all Special Advisers’ travel are proactively published by the Scottish Government. This transparency data can be accessed via this weblink: Special advisers' gifts, hospitality, media meetings and expenses: April-June 2023 - gov.scot 

This is a formal notice that Section 27(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. The information requested will be published within 12 weeks of your request and will be available at the link above. This exemption allows public authorities to refuse to disclose information if they already plan to publish it within the next 12 weeks. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Rome
Please see attached below the total costings for flights and accommodation for this trip:

Purpose	Total expenses (FM + 2 officials)
Flight: EDI-FCO Rome	£1045.14
Flight: CIA Rome-EDI	£928.86
Hotel: Catone District Hotel	350 EUR

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 website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Question 4

The class of flight tickets purchased and for whom were as follows:

Flights	Class of Ticket
France	Economy: John Swinney – First Minister Name redacted s38(1)(b) – Private Secretary Name and designation redacted s38(1)(b) and s39(1) Name and designation redacted s38(1)(b) and s39(1)
Germany	Economy: John Swinney – First Minister Name redacted s38(1)(b) – Private Secretary Emily Mackintosh – Special Advisor Name redacted s38(1)(b) – Policy Officer Name redacted s38(1)(b) – Policy Officer Name redacted s38(1)(b) – Visits and Events Name redacted s38(1)(b) – FM Communications Officer Name and designation redacted s38(1)(b) and s39(1) Name and designation redacted s38(1)(b) and s39(1)
United States of America	Business: John Swinney - First Minister John Webster - Principle Private Secretary Emily Mackintosh – Special Advisor Economy: Richard Rollison – Director International Trade & Investment Name redacted s38(1)(b) – FM Communications Team Leader Name redacted s38(1)(b) – Senior Content Manager Name redacted s38(1)(b) – Visits and Events
Rome	Economy: John Swinney – First Minister Name redacted s38(1)(b) – Deputy Private Secretary Name and designation redacted s38(1)(b) and s39(1) Name and designation redacted s38(1)(b) and s39(1)

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to some of the information above, this is because it is personal data of a third party and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

An exemption under section 39(1) of FOISA (health & safety) applies to some of the information you have requested. The Scottish Government does not provide information in relation to the First Minister’s security matters. This is because disclosure would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health or 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 some public interest in the arrangements for the First Minister’s travel, however, this is outweighed by the public interest in the safety of the First Minister.

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.