FOI/202600521879 · FOI · partially withheld
Full financial audit and business itinerary of First Minister’s World Cup 2026 trip to Boston: FOI release
Information requested
Full disclosure of all financial records, expenditure, and official itineraries held by the Scottish Government regarding the First Minister John Swinney’s June 2026 trip to Boston, USA, for the FIFA World Cup. – a breakdown of every single penny of taxpayer funds used for this travel, alongside proof of the specific government business conducted. You specifically asked for the exact ledger entries, receipts, invoices, and official records for the following categories:
1. Official Business Itinerary & Justification: A complete, unredacted diary or schedule detailing every official business meeting, trade engagement, or diplomatic event attended by the First Minister during this trip. Please provide the names of the organisations, corporate entities, or political figures met, the specific duration of these meetings, and copies of the minutes or briefing notes produced to demonstrate the official business outcomes achieved.
2. Transport & Flights: The total cost of all outbound and return flights, including the specific class of travel booked (e.g., Economy, Business, First Class) for the First Minister and every member of his delegation. Please include any internal US transport costs, car rentals, or private chauffeur services used during the trip.
3. Accommodation: A complete breakdown of accommodation costs, specifying the names of the hotels used in the Boston/Massachusetts area and the nightly room rates billed to the public purse.
4. Delegation Size & Staff Costs: The exact number of individuals who travelled within the First Minister's official party (including civil servants, special advisers, security personnel, or press officers) and the cumulative cost of their travel, hotels, and daily subsistence allowances.
5. Subsistence & Entertainment: Itemised costs for all meals, drinks, hospitality, and entertainment claims submitted by the First Minister or his staff during this period.
6. Match Tickets & Event Access: The exact cost and source of the tickets utilized to attend World Cup matches at the Boston Stadium. If tickets were provided as hospitality by FIFA or the SFA, please provide the official declaration logs recording these gifts.
7. Invoices and Communications: Digital copies of all original receipts, hotel invoices, corporate card statements, and internal Scottish Government emails or briefings concerning the estimated, approved, and final budget for this trip.
Response
In relation to point 1, I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.
Exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA have been applied throughout. Disclosing this information would contravene one or more of the data protection principles set out in Article 5 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. In particular, the individuals concerned would not reasonably expect their personal data to be disclosed into the public domain in response to a freedom of information request. This exemption is absolute and is therefore not subject to the public interest test so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.
An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA (formulation of policy) applies to some of the information requested because it relates to the development of Scottish Government policy. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, to ensure officials are able to discuss openly in order to form policy.
An exemption under section 30(b)(i) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This relates to officials providing Ministers with free and frank advice.
This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because it relates to advice to Ministers. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in Scottish Government officials being able freely give advice on sensitive issues and ongoing working relationships with external stakeholders. Disclosing such advice would substantially inhibit the provision of such advice occurring in the future, particularly as this relates to sensitive issues.
An exemption under section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This relates to officials having free and frank discussion about policy issues.
This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because it relates to football. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in Scottish Government officials being able to have free and frank discussions on sensitive issues and ongoing working relationships with external stakeholders. Disclosing such free and frank discussions would substantially inhibit such discussions occurring in the future, particularly as these relate to sensitive issues.
For points 2, 3 and 4, an exemption has been applied to information relating to the estimated cost of the visit to the World Cup visits and related detail, including officials who attended in support of Ministers. It is our intention to publish this data within 12 weeks. This is a formal notice under Section 27(1) that the information is intended for future publication. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.
We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because of the use of public funds to support this visit, and this will be met by our planned publication. In the meantime, there is a greater public interest in taking the time necessary to ensure the information has been properly collated and checked before it is published as planned. Also, we see no public interest in disrupting our programme of work to release the information ahead of the intended publication date.
In relation to point 5 and 7, the Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because at the time of your request, staff were not asked to keep itemised receipts, however we are planning to publish the total subsistence costs for each official who supported the First Minister on the visit. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.
In relation to point 6, match tickets for Ministers and supporting officials were provided by FIFA. We are aware that FIFA provided the same courtesy for Ministerial led delegations of other countries participating in the World Cup.
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Detected exemption language
Exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA have been applied throughout. Disclosing this information would contravene one or more of the data protection principles set out in Article 5 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is absolute and is therefore not subject to the public interest test so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA (formulation of policy) applies to some of the information requested because it relates to the development of Scottish Government policy. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’.