Information regarding spend on Scottish Embassies/consulate and offices: FOI release

Information requested

What is the total cost of Nicola Sturgeon’s visit to the U.S.A.?
How much money has been spent establishing Scottish “embassies/consulates/offices” around the world?
How many Scottish “embassies/consulates/offices” have been opened and how many are in the pipeline?

Response

Each point of your request has been responded to below.
 

• What is the total cost of Nicola Sturgeon’s visit to the U.S.A.?

Details of all Ministerial engagements and expenses are proactively published by the Scottish Government, including the costs of travel and accommodation. The information can be accessed at the below link: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, 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.

An exemption(s) under section(s) 27 (1) of FOISA applies to some the information you have requested. This exemption can be applied when it is the intention of the relevant Scottish public authority to publish the information no later than 12 weeks after the date on which the request was made.
 

• How much money has been spent establishing Scottish “embassies/consulates/offices” around the world?

The table below details where our international offices are situated including the budget back to 2016-17. The budget for each office includes salary costings, upkeep and day-today running.

	2016-17 £000	2017-18 £000	2018-19 £000	2019-20 £000	2020-21 £000	2021-22 £000	2022-23 £000
Beijing, China	395	395	395	553	554	550	567
Washington DC, United States	700	700	700	807	811	805	794
Ottawa, Canada			500	575	575	570	634
Paris, France			500	545	558	556	659
Dublin, Ireland			350	541	572	596	593
Berlin, Germany			300	549	549	555	572
Brussels, Belgium		1,139	1,639	2,079	2,088	2,310	2,467
London, England			1,650	1,995	2,041	2,197	2,180
Copenhagen, Denmark							598

Notes
1. In 2019-20 the Scottish Government moved to a Total Operating Cost model of accounting, this means from that year on each budget includes a contribution to Corporate Running Costs that is set each year.
2. The Canada and France Offices became operational in the course of 2018-19. Prior to this, the United States budget (which was called the North America Budget at that time) included the costs for a post based in Toronto.
3. Prior to 2018-19 the budgets for London, Dublin and Berlin (while these offices were being established) were not identified separately. They were funded from within a larger budget line and were not accounted for separately.
4. 2017-18 was the first year in which the Brussels Office had a separate budget line, it was previously funded from within a larger budget and was not accounted for separately.
5. 2016-17 was the first year in which the United States and China Offices had separate budget lines. Prior to this they were funded from within budgets that contained other elements and were not accounted for separately.
6. The Copenhagen office became operational during 2022.
 

• How many Scottish “embassies/consulates/offices” have been opened and how many are in the pipeline?

The table above details all operational International Offices.

The Scottish Government has committed to opening an office in Warsaw by the end of this parliamentary session as part of our continued commitment to enhancing our external reach and voice. The planning process is at the early stages and final costs for the Warsaw office will be available in due course.

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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.