Government slated for overseas spending

DANIEL JOHNSON MSP has condemned the bill for the SNP government’s overseas offices.

Figures obtained by Parliamentary Questions have revealed that The Scottish Government employs some 52 members of staff in offices across the globe.

The cost of this to the public purse is £8,139,000.

The upkeep of the office in Brussels costs £2.3 million employing 17 people, three more than the London office although as Mr Johnson points out the vast majority of Scotland’s trade takes place within the UK.

The written answers also reveal that The Scottish Government is expanding these offices, with plans to open in Copenhagen and Warsaw. This will likely increase costs of these outposts by at least a further £1 million.

Mr Johnson said that while it is important for The Scottish Government to have a presence abroad, serious questions need to be asked about this level of expenditure while we are in the midst of a health and economic crisis.

Johnson (above)said: “This is an eye-watering amount of money for the government to be spending abroad while our NHS is in crisis and thousands are stuck on furlough.

“If these offices are focussed on trade why are they in administrative cities such as Washington, Ottawa and Berlin rather than the commercial centres of New York, Toronto and Frankfurt.

“I fear the answer has more to do with political posture than economic utility.

“At a time where we can’t staff ambulances, finish ferries or even pick up peoples’ bins in our largest city, the plan to expand these overseas offices beggars belief.

“It’s high time the SNP spent more time on governing and sorting out frontline services than opening more overseas