Departing SNP Minister Incurs £33k Expense on Chile Trip
Departing SNP minister Mairi Gougeon incurred a £33,000 cost for her government trip to Chile, intended to enhance economic ties and promote Scottish interests. The Scottish Government’s trip expenses included additional civil servant costs and sparked criticism from opposition leaders regarding the appropriateness and value of such spending amid local issues.
Mairi Gougeon, the departing Secretary for Rural Affairs, incurred a significant £33,000 expense during her two-week government trip to Chile in March of last year. This visit was aimed at enhancing a memorandum of understanding signed with Chile at COP26 and promoting Scottish interests at the AquaSur aquaculture trade fair.
The Scottish Government’s official engagements page reported a lower figure of £7,880 as the trip’s cost, excluding the expenses for two civil servants accompanying Gougeon. The aggregate costs accounted for £25,075.71 due to necessary official travel and additional ministerial expenses totalling £8,186. Following this, Gougeon also attended an event in Barcelona that amounted to £3,028, with added costs of £1,023.17 for accompanying officials.
The Scottish Government celebrated Gougeon’s Chilean trip on their LinkedIn profile, underscoring her participation in AquaSur, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest aquaculture trade expo. During her visit, she engaged with aquaculture ministers from Norway and Chile and contributed to discussions focusing on the industry’s sustainability through innovation.
While there, she toured notable salmon producers that reflect Scotland’s status as the world’s leading salmon exporter. The aquaculture sector is valued at over £1.8 billion to the Scottish economy. The Scottish Government defended the trip, emphasizing its commitment to promoting economic growth and international engagement, which aligns with their initiatives to enhance Scotland’s image in global markets.
In response, Scottish Tory Deputy Leader Rachael Hamilton expressed concern over Gougeon’s expense, questioning the justification of such a significant bill for a trip, especially since foreign affairs falls under Westminster. She criticized the apparent priority placed on promoting the SNP’s independence agenda rather than addressing pressing domestic issues for Scots.
The Scottish Government’s expenditures on international trips, notably Mairi Gougeon’s £33,000 Chilean visit, have sparked debate regarding value for taxpayers. Despite the government asserting that these trips promote economic interests, critics question their necessity, especially when pressing local concerns remain unaddressed. As Scotland navigates its intricate political landscape, the balancing of international representation against fiscal responsibility continues to be highly scrutinized.
Original Source: www.dailyrecord.co.uk
Post Comment