Costings of events hosted at Bute House

Information requested

You asked for:

1. A total, and breakdown on all costings related to entertainment hosted at Bute House over the past three years. This may include many events such as (but not limited to) engagements, receptions, drinks/lunches/dinners with guests/visitors, etc., broken down by year if possible.

2. A total on all spending on alcohol in/for Bute House (events or otherwise) in the last three years, again, broken down by year if possible

Response

To respond to your request, I have undertaken a thorough review of information from our purchasing system, relating to hospitality orders for events hosted at Bute House. The information below was provided by caterers as part of official hospitality for the past three years and was billed as part of the overall cost of the event or as total food and drinks package. The package also includes all associated staffing costs, transport and equipment hire.

Question 1

Please see below all the information we hold relevant to your request. This is the most detailed information we have about entertainment at Bute House over the past three years.

For the financial year 2020-21. 2021-22; and for the financial year 2022-23 (to the date of your request, 09 May 2023) spend on hospitality is as follows:

• 2020 – 21: Nil
• 2021-22: £1,009.60
• 2022-2023: £24,013.15

In addition, details of all Ministerial engagements are proactively published by the Scottish Government .The information can be accessed at the below link:

https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/

Question 2

Providing alcohol at government expense is allowed when official hospitality is provided at a reception or dinner, including at Bute House. A modest amount of alcohol can be provided in line with the Scottish Government policy on alcohol. The costs of alcohol below all relate to official hospitality at Bute House. This is the most detailed information we have about purchases of bottles of wine for Bute House over the past three years. We do not provide any other alcoholic drinks.

• 2020 – 21: Nil
• 2021-22: £84, comprising wine costs only.
• 2022-2023: £2,712.39, comprising wine costs only.

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.