Written Question · S6W-17500 · Session 6
Regarding the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture's recent attendance at New York City Tartan Week, who attend…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture's recent attendance at New York City Tartan Week, who attended in an official capacity with the Cabinet Secretary; what the full itemised cost was of the Cabinet Secretary's attendance, along with the cost of any officials and members of the Cabinet Secretary's party; what the pre-determined aims, objectives and anticipated deliverables of the attendance were; what meetings and events the Cabinet Secretary attended whilst in New York City; what the (i) minutes and (ii) speaking notes were of any events at which the Cabinet Secretary spoke or had discussions in an official capacity; what specific and identifiable outcomes were achieved from the Cabinet Secretary's attendance, and what official debrief has taken, or will take, place, to ensure that the outcomes achieved represent good value to the public purse for the spending that was incurred.
The answer
My visit aimed to cover a number of areas in the Scotland/US relationship. It had a particular focus on trade and investment, culture, higher education and – linking all of these things – Scotland’s network in the US. This visit offered an opportunity to build upon my visit to the US in April 2022, as well as other Ministerial visits over the past 12 months. It also presented an opportunity to launch our Scottish Connections Framework, Scotland’s new diaspora strategy, in perhaps the most populous (alongside Canada) diaspora location. (Link Scottish Connections Framework
- gov.scot (www.gov.scot) )
I attended Tartan Week, supported by my Private Secretary, the Scottish Government Deputy Director for International, and two supporting officials. Five members of staff based in the US also supported my visit and attended events. The full costs of my visit, and those of all Ministerial travel costs, are routinely published on the Scottish Government website. I would encourage you to look there for more details (Link: Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts
- gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
You also requested the costs for travelling officials who accompanied me from Scotland. Please find these in the following table.
Official
Flights (£)
Hotel (£)
Nights
T&S (£)
Private Secretary
922.21
1169.26
5
161.51
Deputy Director
1,476
846.99
3
320.31
Comms Official
921.41
935.40
4
190.10
Policy Official
586.21
1169.26
5
578.27
I can confirm I met with several businesses with operations in the US and Scotland to support their continued engagement and investment in Scotland. These companies include XPO Logistics, Mirador, Catalent, Rockstar Games, AMP Energy and Aiim Partners. Details of the meetings, including summaries of each, will be published next week under Freedom of Information.
In terms of follow up, I meet senior officials regularly to discuss international engagement. There are a range of actions including follow up with specific companies, ongoing diaspora engagements and discussion with the Tartan Week Committee to ensure future viability and value for money, which will continue to be monitored in the coming year. Furthermore, there were over 50 commitments made in Scottish Connections report, which officials are now actively working on.
- gov.scot (www.gov.scot) )
I attended Tartan Week, supported by my Private Secretary, the Scottish Government Deputy Director for International, and two supporting officials. Five members of staff based in the US also supported my visit and attended events. The full costs of my visit, and those of all Ministerial travel costs, are routinely published on the Scottish Government website. I would encourage you to look there for more details (Link: Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts
- gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
You also requested the costs for travelling officials who accompanied me from Scotland. Please find these in the following table.
Official
Flights (£)
Hotel (£)
Nights
T&S (£)
Private Secretary
922.21
1169.26
5
161.51
Deputy Director
1,476
846.99
3
320.31
Comms Official
921.41
935.40
4
190.10
Policy Official
586.21
1169.26
5
578.27
I can confirm I met with several businesses with operations in the US and Scotland to support their continued engagement and investment in Scotland. These companies include XPO Logistics, Mirador, Catalent, Rockstar Games, AMP Energy and Aiim Partners. Details of the meetings, including summaries of each, will be published next week under Freedom of Information.
In terms of follow up, I meet senior officials regularly to discuss international engagement. There are a range of actions including follow up with specific companies, ongoing diaspora engagements and discussion with the Tartan Week Committee to ensure future viability and value for money, which will continue to be monitored in the coming year. Furthermore, there were over 50 commitments made in Scottish Connections report, which officials are now actively working on.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S6W-17500 by reference.