Cost of Ministerial attendance at the World Cup: FOI release

Information requested

Which MSPs will be attending the World Cup in the USA when Holyrood is still sitting and whether the cost is to the taxpayer or if they are paid for out of personal funds.

Response

The answer to your question is that the First Minister, John Swinney, and the Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs, Maree Todd, will be travelling to the World Cup in their Ministerial capacity. The cost of Ministers travelling on official business is met by the Scottish Government. These costs will be published in due course.

It has been reported that two other MSPs who are Scottish Government Ministers, Stephen Flynn MSP and Alison Thewliss MSP, are also attending the World Cup, but this is in a personal capacity and not in an official or Ministerial capacity.

The Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have asked for because we do not have, or require, information on how many MSPs are planning to travel to the World Cup. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

However, you may wish to contact the Scottish Parliament directly to ask how many MSPs are planning to travel to the World Cup at Requesting information | Scottish Parliament Website who may be able to help you.

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.