Publication - Transparency data

Special advisers' gifts, hospitality, media meetings and expenses: January-March 2026

Published: 23 June 2026
Directorate: People Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Information about gifts and hospitality received by special advisers, special advisers' meetings with newspaper and media proprietors, editors and senior executives, and expenses.

Part of

Special advisers: gifts and hospitality

Gifts

None.

Hospitality

Name of Special Advisor	Name of organisation	Value (£15-£30 or £30>)	Date of hospitality	Descripti
Ian Muirhead	Scottish Association of Young Farmers Club	£30>	12 January	Hospitality at Rural Leader's Event
Ian Muirhead	NFU Scotland	£30>	5 February	Gala Dinner
Emily Mackintosh	Heineken	£30>	14 February	Hospitality Six Nations
Helen Scott	Heineken	£30>	14 February	Hospitality Six Nations
Ross Ingebrigtsen	Diageo	£30>	14 February	Hospitality Six Nations
Emily Mackintosh	Diageo	£15 - £30	18 February	Lunch

Media meetings

Special Adviser	Date	Name of Senior Media Figure	Purpose of meeting
Ross Ingebrigtsen	26 January	Gary Gibbon	Catch Up
Ross Ingebrigtsen	27 January	Owena Griffiths	Catch Up
Ross Ingebrigtsen	27 January	John Neal	Catch Up
Emily Mackintosh	24 February	Ian McConnell	Catch Up

Expenses

Special Adviser	iExpenses	Accomodation	Travel
Ross Ingebrigtsen	£154.20	£226.40	£300.60
Olaf Stando	£196.52	£389.19	£674.38
Emily Mackintosh	£19.02	-	£345.40
Kate Higgins	£24.95	-	-
Sean McGivern	£12.20	-	-
Helen Scott	£7.96	£611.65	£1467.93
Ian Muirhead	-	£182.00	-

These expenses are primarily incurred by Special Advisers in supporting the First Minister and Scottish Ministers at events in other parts of the United Kingdom, including intergovernmental negotiations and on foreign visits taking forward the Scottish Government’s programme.

Due to the way in which the different type of expenses are held i-expenses are recorded by payment date, accommodation by invoice date and travel costs by travel date.

Contact

Email: contactus@gov.scot

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