Salmond

And Labour are fuming...

Andy Roberts's picture
Fri, 30 Nov 2012
Salmond

According to the Scottish government, the cost of sending a delegation led by First Minister Alex Salmond to the 2012 Ryder Cup was almost £470,000.

The trip to Medinah was supposedly all part of the plan to ‘maximise the economic benefits’ of hosting the biennial event at Gleneagles in 2014.

Criticised by opposition parties for splashing the cash in Chicago, the Scottish government responded by saying the 2014 Ryder Cup will generate ‘at least £100million for the Scottish economy’.

“The overall cost of Team Scotland’s participation at the 2012 Ryder Cup was £468,580 and every effort was made to minimise costs including liaising with partner organisations to secure preferred rates where possible and identifying in-kind support,” said External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hislop.

“Team Scotland’s approach in Chicago will help ensure we maximise the economic benefits of hosting the Ryder Cup in 2014 which will generate at least £100million for the Scottish economy.”

But Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson wasn’t so forgiving: “To find out that Alex Salmond’s trip to watch the golf cost all of us almost half a million pounds is eye-watering.

“The Welsh government can spend about the same, but attend three Ryder Cups. Why does Alex Salmond cost us so much more?

“This comes on top of the tens of thousands of pounds spent on his trip to the opening of Brave in California earlier this year.”

Breakdown of Salmond’s costs to Medinah

  • £202,600 spent on programme delivery
  • £83,165 paid for the exhibition stand
  • £80,263 for accommodation
  • £54,192 for flights
  • £20,178 spent on office costs
  • £20,178 for marketing/branding
  • £8,125 for logistics

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