Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many official representations abroad ministers in his Department made in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019-20 and (c) 2021-2022; in which countries those representations took place; in what capacity those representations were undertaken; and what the cost to the public purse was of each of those representations.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
In the financial year 2018-19, Ministers made five official representations abroad in their ministerial capacity. These representations were to Iceland, the United States of America, New Zealand, Uruguay and Chile. The cost of these was £17,807.66.
In the financial year 2019-20, Ministers made one official representation abroad in their ministerial capacity. This representation was to Hungary. The cost of this was £240.68.
In the financial year 2021-22, Ministers made three official representations abroad in their ministerial capacity. These representations were to India, Finland and Norway. The cost of these was £2,383.93.
Further details on the purpose and details of these visits are available in the Ministerial transparency returns, which are published on https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases?organisations%5B%5D=office-of-the-secretary-of-state-for-scotland&parent=office-of-the-secretary-of-state-for-scotland.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the (a) staffing levels and (b) running costs of his Department in (i) 2022–23 and (ii) 2023–24.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Spending Review Settlement agreed with HM Treasury voted the Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General a Resource DEL provision (excluding depreciation) of £13.4m for 2022-23 and £13.7m for 2023-24. This calculation was based on a staffing structure across both offices of 137 in 2022-23 and 135 in 2023-24.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many official trade representations abroad did ministers from his Department make in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019–20 and (c) 2021–2022; and in which countries those representations took place.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland visited Uruguay and Chile on an official trade representation in September 2018.
Across the financial years 2018-19, 2019–20 and 2021–2022, Ministers from the Scotland Office visited Iceland, the United States of America, New Zealand, India, Finland and Norway to promote trade with Scotland.
Further details on the purpose and details of these visits are available in the Ministerial transparency returns, which are published on:
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the running costs of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and Advocate-General for Scotland were in each year 2015–2022; how much of the budget in each year was allocated to (a) staff costs, (b) maintenance, (c) travel costs and (d) other expenditure.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The running costs of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and Advocate-General for Scotland in each year between 2015–2022, broken down by (a) staff costs, (b) maintenance, (c) travel costs and (d) other expenditure are shown below:
Financial Year | Staff Costs | Maintenance (Accommodation Costs) | Travel Costs | Other Expenditure |
| £000 | £000 | £000 | £000 |
2015-16 | £5,926 | £1,585 | £587 | £633 |
2016-17 | £6,821 | £1,293 | £628 | £1,051 |
2017-18 | £6,204 | £1,620 | £546 | £950 |
2018-19 | £6,838 | £1,360 | £643 | £773 |
2019-20 | £7,611 | £1,591 | £752 | £1,452 |
2020-21 | £7,806 | £3,405 | £119 | £832 |
2021-22 | £8,479 | £1,865 | £297 | £564 |
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had recent discussions with the Minister for Brexit Opportunities on legislative proposals for the amendment of retained EU law.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I discuss the benefits of boosting the competitiveness of the UK economy whilst maintaining high standards, including by reforming retained EU law, with my Cabinet colleagues on a regular basis.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had recent discussions with the Prime Minister on legislative proposals for the amendment of retained EU law.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I discuss the benefits of boosting the competitiveness of the UK economy whilst maintaining high standards, including by reforming retained EU law, with my Cabinet colleagues on a regular basis.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many officials in their Department are working on Retained EU Law legislation.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
Officials in my Department support the UK Government's legislative programme across all legislation, including on the development of legislation reforming retained EU law, but there is not a specific FTE allocation of time against individual bills.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will publish the membership of the new Scottish business taskforce he announced on 16 September 2017.
Answered by David Mundell
The membership of the Scottish Business Taskforce, chaired by Lord Dunlop, will be announced in advance of the first meeting which will take place on 27 October.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, further to the Answer of 25 June 2014, Official Report, column 208W, on sovereignty, whether the figure provided in the Answer includes the cost of any amendments, alterations or destruction of any printed material promoting the Government's policy on the Scottish independence referendum.
Answered by Alistair Carmichael - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Justice)
The answer of 25 June 2014, Official Report, Column 208W, specified a total of £723,501 (plus VAT). This was fully inclusive of all costs incurred as part of the design, production and delivery process for What Staying in the United Kingdom Means for Scotland.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many leaflets produced by his Department promoting the Government's policy on the Scottish independence referendum have had to be amended, altered or destroyed; and at what cost to the public purse.
Answered by Alistair Carmichael - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Justice)
The Scotland Office incurred no costs in amending, altering or destroying any leaflets promoting the Government’s policy on the Scottish independence referendum.