The Scottish Government has blamed changes to First Minister's Questions for why John Swinney's flights to America for the World Cup cost an astonishing £18,000.
Sources said the revamped, now twice-weekly First Minister's Questions (FMQs) launched at Holyrood on June 8, with sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, had “affected travel plans” for Swinney without providing further detail.
Cost of the trip
The First Minister has come under fire after it emerged he flew out to the US with an entourage around June 11, with the government racking up a total bill of £98,442 in flights, accommodation, car hire and other expenses as Scotland celebrated playing in its first World Cup in 28 years.
Swinney is facing fresh questions over why business-class flights for him and his private secretary were so expensive - at an eye-watering £17,893 each.
Acting Scottish Labour leader Jackie Baillie said: “It beggars belief that John Swinney is trying to blame Parliament for these extravagant flights.
“Frankly the SNP government’s bizarre explanation raises more questions than it answers. The SNP has long shown a total disregard for public money, but even by their standards this is staggering.”
FMQs overhaul
New presiding officer Kenny Gibson announced the overhaul of FMQs and other parliamentary business in late May to start on the week beginning June 8, with the first Tuesday FMQs held on June 9 then Thursday's sessions on June 11.
Tuesday's setpiece allows backbenchers to pose Swinney questions while Thursday's FMQs is set aside for party leaders. Typically when a first minister or prime minister is away on an overseas visit, their deputy will stand in for them to answer questions from parliamentarians.
Swinney and his secretary's US flights cost far more than anyone else in the SNP government's delegation - and appear to far exceed known prices at the time, even accounting for higher fares during the tournament.
Flight prices and reactions
A return business-class fare to the US typically costs between £2500 and £5000, rising to £6000-£9000 for last-minute or peak summer fares.
Swinney flew out to Boston ahead of Scotland's first World Cup clash against Haiti on June 14 before travelling on to Kentucky for trade talks.
Another key aide to the First Minister, special adviser Colin McAllister, flew business class for the trip but his flights were around half that of Swinney's, at £9,864.
The Scottish Government denied rebooking any flights or booking any first-class journeys. They refused to confirm what dates the flights were booked.
The rest of the government's delegation, including sports minister Maree Todd who attended Scotland's third match against Brazil in Miami on June 24, flew on economy fares for far cheaper, with Todd's air travel costs coming to £1471.
Scottish Government travel rules state business flights should only be booked for journeys more than 10 hours "unless otherwise agreed". Direct flights from Edinburgh to Boston typically last about seven hours.
Asked about the costs last week, Swinney said: “Obviously, when flights have got to be booked, when there’s intense pressure on the time involved, then the costs are likely to be higher… we tried to minimise those costs.”
Tory MSP Stephen Kerr hit back: “If this was Swinney trying to minimise the costs of his trip, then I dread to think how big the taxpayers’ bill would have been if he wasn’t.
“The public deserve to know why the costs of these flights were so eye-watering at a time when their household bills are soaring.
“Swinney’s trip across the pond looks like yet another example of the SNP’s total disregard for delivering value for taxpayers and they should urgently come clean on the decisions surrounding it.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “International travel allows ministers to promote Scotland, build relationships and boost investment. The Scotland’s men’s team qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998 was a unique opportunity to position and promote Scotland’s interests through a major global event.
“The First Minister and Sport Minister Maree Todd travelled to the USA in an official ministerial capacity to support the men’s national team at the World Cup and undertake a programme of engagements to strengthen trade, tourism, culture and diaspora relationships and seek to attract further inward investment in Scotland.
“When arranging ministerial overseas visits, the cost to the public purse is taken into consideration and visits cover a wide range of areas to ensure best value for money.”
