The Scottish Government

Information Released in Response to an FOI Request

Note: If you have difficulty accessing the documents on this page and would like copies in a different format, please e-mail foi@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

The information specifies individual Ministers, the particular journey they undertook and the related costs. Journeys that are to destinations out with the UK mainland which require a 1st leg trip within the mainland are excluded. Information relating to Civil Servants shows those booked through the central travel provider. There is a small number of flights booked directly by Civil Servants (total spend in period: £44,407).

The information provided comprises those within core Scottish Executive departments and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) only. COPFS has sought to exclude any essential flights taken by witnesses attending court, though there is a risk that some small amount of witness related costs may still be contained with the information. Transport Scotland's data is included in the attached as they did not have a separate account with the travel provider during the period requested.

Value for money is our watchword. Ministers and civil servants are required to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. They must consider if a journey is necessary and, if it is, they must use the most cost-effective and time efficient method of travel. This includes taking account of government fares and the time it takes to travel by different methods of transport. Ministers and civil servants are also making increasing use of video conference where appropriate instead of travelling to meetings in the UK and further afield.

Ministers and officials travel for a range of reasons - all of which aim to ensure we effectively represent the people we serve and ensure Scotland's voice is heard on important issues. Travel is necessary to attend Ministerial meetings, meetings with businesses and visits to the communities we serve.

Ministers adhere to the following guiding principles on their travel:

a) Propriety: Official transport should not normally be used for travel arrangements arising from Party or private business, except where this is justified on security grounds.

(b) Efficient Use of Resources: The availability of some services such as official cars has to be limited, and Ministers should bear in mind the need to use them efficiently.

(c) Cost Consciousness: The cost of alternative arrangements should be considered before decisions involving substantial costs are made, especially if, exceptionally, special flights are being considered as an alternative to scheduled services.

(d) Security: Ministers should keep security risks in mind at all times, particularly when travelling by car.

The Executive recognises that it must address its contribution to climate change and we are committed to reduce our emissions from business travel, covering all modes, by 5 per cent between 2005-06 and 2010-11. While the priority lies with reducing the overall emissions relative to our activities we also believe we should offset those emissions we cannot avoid, and introduced a carbon emissions levy to specific modes of travel from 1 June 2006. Offsetting carbon emissions is becoming standard practice as businesses recognise their corporate social responsibility.

Wherever a Minister or member of staff at the Scottish Executive travels by air, within the UK, we pay a carbon levy of £5 per journey to offset the carbon emissions. Over the coming months we will be working to identify suitable projects to offset the emissions relative to our business travel during 2006/07 effectively making business travel in the Executive carbon neutral.