SNP Minister Accumulates £33K on Taxpayer-Funded Trip to Chile

Mairi Gougeon, a departing SNP Minister, incurred a £33,000 bill on a two-week taxpayer-funded trip to Chile to promote Scotland’s aquaculture industry. The expenses included significant costs for her officials, raising questions about fiscal responsibility during a time of budget cuts. Criticism emerged from the Scottish Conservatives regarding the propriety of such expenditures.

A departing Scottish National Party (SNP) Minister accrued significant expenses amounting to £33,000 during a taxpayer-funded trip to Chile. Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon traveled to South America for two weeks in March of the previous year, ostensibly to advance a memorandum of understanding established at COP26 and to promote Scotland at the AquaSur event.

Accompanied by two officials, the journey proceeded in spite of restrictions on foreign affairs, which are constitutionally reserved for Westminster. The complete expense, revealed via a freedom of information request, indicated that the official travel and expenses totalled £25,075.71, alongside £8,186 for the ministerial costs. Notably, the Scottish Government initially reported only £7,880 for the trip, excluding the officials’ expenses.

The expenses incurred came at a challenging financial time for the Scottish Government, which faced severe funding cuts, including £200 million from the affordable housing budget. The Scottish Conservative party criticized the significant expenditure, with Deputy Leader Rachael Hamilton questioning the justification of such costs when foreign affairs fall under Westminster’s purview.

During her time in Chile, Ms. Gougeon’s involvement included meeting with aquaculture ministers from both Chile and Norway and engaging in discussions on sustainable industry practices. The Scottish Government highlighted her participation in events to elevate the profile of Scotland’s aquaculture sector, which generates over £1.8 billion for the economy. A Government spokesperson defended expenditure as essential for promoting economic growth.

In summary, the substantial costs associated with Mairi Gougeon’s trip to Chile have sparked criticism regarding fiscal responsibility and priorities within the SNP Government. While the aim was to promote Scotland’s aquaculture industry, the expenditure raises questions about the appropriateness of such trips during financially constrained times. This situation exemplifies the ongoing debate surrounding governmental expenditures and their alignment with the public’s needs and expectations.

Original Source: www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk