International offices in Europe: FOI release

Information requested

In relation to all information relating to the Scottish Embassies throughout Europe.

• Why are these needed?
• What are they used for?
• Why are we wasting tax payer money on these?
• How much of tax payer money has been used to fund these useless Embassies?

Response

1 & 2. Scotland’s international network creates domestic opportunities, broadens our horizons, attracts investment and ultimately benefits the people of Scotland. Our international network and the people that work within it help further Scotland’s economic, cultural and policy visibility in key countries. The work of our offices includes:-

• improving Scotland’s international profile
• attracting investment
• helping businesses to trade internationally
• promoting and securing research and innovation capability, partnerships and funding
• facilitating cultural exchanges and events
• protecting and enhancing Scotland’s interests in the EU and beyond

4. The budgets for the International Offices in Europe, since opening by year format, is listed below.

Location	2017-2018 £000	2018-2019 £000	2019-2020 £000	2020-2021 £000	2021-2022 £000	2022-2023 £000
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

• 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.
• 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.

In 2022-23 our network of international offices will account for around 0.02% of the Scottish Government’s overall spending plans.

About FOI

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