A departing SNP Minister, Mairi Gougeon, accrued a £33,000 bill during a two-week official trip to Chile aimed at promoting Scottish aquaculture. The expenses faced backlash for occurring amidst severe budget cuts, prompting criticism regarding fiscal responsibility. Although the Scottish Government defends the trip as promoting economic growth, questions about accountability remain.
A departing Scottish National Party (SNP) Minister incurred a significant expenditure of £33,000 during a two-week official trip to Chile. Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon justified the trip as a means to extend the memorandum of understanding established at COP26 and to promote Scotland at the AquaSur event in March of last year. She was accompanied by two officials, despite Westminster handling foreign affairs, leading to concerns over the financial implications for taxpayers.
The official costs for the trip totaled £25,075.71 for the visit to Chile, in addition to £8,186 attributed to ministerial expenses. Furthermore, Ms. Gougeon undertook a separate visit to Barcelona, racking up a bill of £3,028, with officials adding an additional £1,023.17. This fiscal conduct has raised questions about the appropriateness of such expenditures during a period of severe financial constraints for the Scottish Government.
Ms. Gougeon announced her intention to step down ahead of the next Holyrood Election, after a decade-long tenure as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), with notable criticism stemming from her funding decisions impacting fishermen and farmers. The financial backdrop included substantial cuts, such as £200 million from the affordable housing budget under First Minister Humza Yousaf’s leadership.
Scottish Conservatives have criticized the trip’s cost, with Deputy Leader Rachael Hamilton remarking, “Hard-pressed Scots will question how and why Mairi Gougeon and her officials racked up such an enormous bill on a trip to Chile, when foreign affairs is reserved to Westminster.” She further stated that such expenditures reflect a lack of value for taxpayer money and urged the SNP to limit international trips to focus on pressing domestic issues.
The Scottish Government, in defense of the trip, noted that it was aimed at supporting economic growth, emphasizing that the aquaculture sector represents more than £1.8 billion to the Scottish economy. The cabinet secretary participated in discussions concerning sustainability in aquaculture and conducted site visits to salmon production facilities during her stay in Chile.
The article details the considerable costs incurred by SNP Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon during a recent official visit to Chile. It highlights the political backlash regarding the timing and expense of the trip amidst significant budget cuts within the Scottish Government. While the Scottish Government defends the expenditure as vital for promoting Scotland’s economic interests, critics question the appropriateness of such trips given current financial challenges. Overall, the situation raises important concerns about government spending priorities and accountability.
Original Source: www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk
