First Minister’s trip to London on 22 September 2025: FOI release

Information requested

“The total costs incurred for the First Minister’s visit to and from London on 22 September 2025. Please break the costs down by category including travel, accommodation, food, and any other costs incurred as a result of the visit. Please also provide a list of the people that the First Minister met with in an official capacity throughout his time in London.”

Response

I enclose most of the information you requested, in the format you asked for.

I am unable to provide some of the information you have requested in response to your first question because exemptions under section 39(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information. Reasons why the exemption applies is outlined below. The costs incurred for travel and subsistence by the First Minister and supporting officials is outlined below:

	Travel	Accommodation	Food/other
First Minister and accompanying officials on 22 September visit to London (x1 Private Office staff member; x1 Special Adviser; x1 Communications Official)
Totals per category	£2819.30	£86.40	£46.10

With regards to “a list of the people the First Minister met in an official capacity throughout his time in London”, please see below:

• Dr Husam Zomlot, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK
• Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East
• Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, and Minister of State (Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister).

Reasons exemptions apply

An exemption under section 39(1) health and safety applies to some of the information requested because that information relates to security matters for the First Minister and 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 interests of open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in ensuring 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.