Angus Robertson's time abroad: FOI Release

Information requested

You asked for: 

1. How many days this year has Angus Robertson not been in Scotland for (up to the date of this FOI?) 

2. List all of the foreign trips to countries outside of Scotland he has taken and their dates. 

3. The total amount spent on trips outside of Scotland that he has been on? 

4. What is his budget for trips outside of Scotland each financial year?

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. This is because we do not hold information on personal travel during Ministers' leave. The answer to your first question is 29.5 working days were spent outside of Scotland. This includes visits to other parts of the UK, such as meeting with UK Government Ministers in London, as well as overseas visits to North America and elsewhere in Europe to meet with other governments and promote Scotland internationally. 

Additionally, we do not hold the information you have requested under question 4 because Ministers do not have individual budgets for travel. The cost and frequency of Ministerial travel is led by demand and can go up and down throughout the year dependent on circumstance and location. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. 

In regard to questions 2 and 3, the Scottish Government proactively publishes information on Ministerial engagements, including international travel and costs. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. This information is available at this link: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/ 

An exemption(s) under section(s) 27(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption allows public authorities to refuse to disclose information if they already plan to publish it within the next 12 weeks. This will be published on the same page as the link provided above. If you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy. 

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.