NATS ministers have been blasted for spending £1.7million on flights in the last five years – while boasting about their eco credentials.
Tory chiefs also said they’d found that 2023 saw more than £500,000 spent by the Scottish Government on domestic and international air travel – with a “record” 1,766 trips.
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Scottish Conservative transport spokeswoman Sue Webber claimed the SNP were often too “free spending” with taxpayers’ money.
She questioned if taking so many flights provided “value for money”.
Ms Webber added: “It also makes a mockery of their claims to be doing all they can to meet climate targets.
“It’s the height of hypocrisy to notch up this many flights when the environment is supposed to be a priority.”
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Ms Webber also said the flights bill was “a classic example of the SNP being free spending with taxpayers’ money”.
She added: “Taking so many trips abroad shows the SNP are spending money on an issue which is clearly reserved to Westminster.
“We know that many of these journeys are used to promote the SNP’s obsession with Scottish independence, which clearly does not deliver value for money for taxpayers.”
The Scottish Tories said the 1,766 flights in 2023 was “believed to be a record amount of flights taken, although records are not available for all years”.
We told in December 2023 how Holyrood ministers have flown the equivalent of ten times around the world in 18 months – with Constitution and External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson clocking up 46,600 miles of air travel.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Travel is an essential part of official Government business.
“All travel bookings are made with sustainability and cost effectiveness in mind.
“International travel allows Ministers to promote Scotland, build relationships and boost investment – including emphasising the Scottish Government’s role in working with partners to support Scottish companies.
“This activity builds and maintains vital links in relation to trade and investment which is key to growing the economy.”
