Dear oh dear. First the SNP’s health secretary attempted to use the public purse to cover his phone bill costs. Now, in a separate matter, the Scottish government’s tourism and trade minister has come under fire for lumping a similarly large bill on taxpayers.
Richard Lochhead’s three-day trip to California resulted in a rather hefty expenses bill of £11,750. Responding to a freedom of information request, the Scottish government helpfully broke down how this money was spent. £8,000 plane tickets, £800 accommodation and just under £450 on extra ‘travel and subsistence’ costs illustrate a rather enjoyable stay. But the real zinger was the revelation that Lochhead racked up costs of £2,500 on ‘chauffeur car travel’. Alright for some!
The purpose of the visit was to ‘tap into the US space economy’ — though Lochhead reportedly spent just, er, 15 minutes delivering his speech on space. The Scottish government defended Lochhead’s trip to the Golden State, saying: ‘The trade minister undertook 17 engagements with industry experts…to discuss investment in Scotland.’.
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