Now spending on international 'embassies' should be cut by SNP ministers in upcoming Budget
Spending for so-called international ‘embassies’ should be slashed by SNP ministers in the upcoming Budget, opponents have said.
The Scottish Conservatives yesterday called for the annual £35million ‘international and European relations’ budget to be reduced in Deputy First Minister Shona Robison’s spending plans next week.
The funding is used for overseas visits and the Scottish Government’s network of offices abroad. Ministers were instead urged to focus on devolved areas.
Scottish Conservative external affairs spokesman Donald Cameron said: ‘At a time when they are facing tough financial choices – not least because of uncosted public sector pay deals and council tax freezes – the SNP should be looking to make savings in the overseas budget.
‘The Scottish people would rather money was spent on essential frontline services, such as health and education, than on Nationalists grandstanding on the global stage designed to push their independence obsession.’
Deputy First Minister Shona Robison is under pressure ahead of the upcoming Budget
Scottish Conservative Donald Cameron has condemned SNP 'grandstanding on the global stage'
Ministers discussed the upcoming budget at a Cabinet meeting yesterday.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Deputy First Minister Shona Robison updated Cabinet on the preparations ahead of the publication of next year’s draft Budget.
‘She is continuing discussions with individual ministerial colleagues to finalise details ahead of the draft Budget’s publication on December 19.
‘Cabinet noted the unprecedented difficulty of the fiscal situation following what ministers have described as the “worst case scenario” of the Autumn Statement, but reiterated its determination to protect essential public services, tackle the cost of living crisis and to grow the economy.’
The Scottish Government’s budget for 2023-24 saw spending on ‘international and European relations’ swell by 5.1 per cent, from £33.3million to £35million.
The Government has been stepping up overseas activity in recent years and has established a network of nine foreign offices, dubbed ‘foreign embassies’, across Europe and North America.
This includes new offices in Warsaw, Poland, and Copenhagen, Denmark, last year, and seven international offices which had already been set up, costing £5.5million a year to run.
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