Government officials have not previously disclosed the £9,898 spent on airport services for Ms Sturgeon. Photo: Peter Jolly
Nearly £10,000 New figures show that £10,000 of taxpayer money was spent on luxurious VIP services for Nicola Sturgeon.
These expenses amounted to more than £14 million spent by Scottish civil servants on credit cards that also included nail polish, yoga classes, and an employee driving test. Government officials also purchased several copies of Ms. Sturgeon's collection of speeches with public funds.
Government officials have not previously released information about the £9,898 spent on airport services for the former First Minister, who was arrested in June as part of an unrelated SNP finance investigation.
Airport services are being provided. a firm that promises to treat its customers «like royalty». Offers to «guide» clients through check-in and screening, then to the VIP lounge and to the waiting flight.
Speaking at the Edinburgh Fringe on Tuesday, Mrs Sturgeon's successor Humza Yousaf said it would be «fair to ask questions» about the revelations. He said he would ask John-Paul Marks, his chief civil servant, to check whether there were «correct procedures» for spending.
Michael Marra, Scottish Labor's financial spokesman, said: «These are the habits of the arrogant and endowed the powers of a government that doesn't care about the taxpayer.
«SNP spends public money on frivolous purchases and VIP service while services are at the limit.
“SHS should end the financial mismanagement that their government is suffering from and start working in Scotland.”
Yoga classes and pregnancy tests
Annie Wells, a Scottish Conservative MP, said: “It’s easy to see why The Scottish Government did not want to reveal Nicola Sturgeon's marvelous tastes, but this cover-up is completely unacceptable.
“This was public money, so it is completely wrong that the true figures were not disclosed to the taxpayers.< /p>
“Now that the truth has come out, Nicola Sturgeon must explain why she felt she deserved to be treated like royalty at the expense of society.”
The Scottish Government has been active in publishing ministerial travel expenses, but appears to have concealed the cost of Ms. Sturgeon's luxurious service at the airport.
He previously claimed that the cost of travel and per diem during Ms Sturgeon's trip to Iceland for the Arctic Circle Assembly in October 2021 was £1,001.26. However, the 'meet and greet' service alone for Ms Sturgeon and her staff at Dublin Airport on her trip cost £1,605.07.
The Scottish Government spent £1,271 on a VIP service for the trip . to Brussels in February 2020, but it was previously claimed that the total travel and accommodation costs for the trip were only £1,033.51.
Officials bought six copies of Ms. Sturgeon's collection of speeches, Women Hold Half the Sky, which had previously been controversial due to ties between the publisher and the SNP government. Public funds were also used to purchase 22 copies of a book called How to Run Government.
Tickets to the Edinburgh Festival
Other expenses included £130 for yoga classes, £41.35 on Amazon for «two tests for pregnancy and five Venturi tests. masks», £89.50 for 12 bottles of suntan lotion and £46.30 for 12 bottles of nail polish.
In 2020, £1,216.55 was spent framing three photographs of the Declaration of Arbroath, the historic document that demanded the Pope recognize Scottish independence in 1320.
Meanwhile, £4.19 was spent on a copy of the prospectus Scottish Independence Day 2014 despite being available for free online.
Three events at the five-star Gleneagles Hotel cost taxpayers an additional £5,200 in three months in 2019. Figures refer to spending between 2019 and last year. Other items included tickets to the Edinburgh Festival.
Senior civil servants are issued credit cards by the Scottish government. Purchases over £500 are being published, but Labor has received all transaction data.
Ms Sturgeon came under fire last month after it was revealed she enjoyed a business class flight to London and stayed at a £515 hotel on her 'farewell tour', which included an appearance in Loose Women. The trip cost £1,230, although it is not known if VIP airport services were also used.
A dozen senior nationalists then used a Scottish government-funded car service to drive home from Ms Sturgeon's departure party at a party. Edinburgh Pub.
SNP Sturgeon Shopping
Government purchases are separate from SNP spending, which is the subject of an investigation by the Scottish Police.
Ms Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell, former Executive Director of the SNP; and former party treasurer Colin Beatty were also arrested and released without charge. Ms Sturgeon vehemently denies wrongdoing in connection with the criminal investigation.
Responding to 58,000 credit card purchases made by government officials, a Scottish government spokesman said the administration is “committed to providing the best value for money for taxpayers «.
He added: «Expenditures with e-cards for purchases are used to support government officials during their normal work, such as training, meals, rental of premises and one-time deliveries.»
< p>» The cards are not for personal use and there are strong authorizations and regular checks to monitor their use.
«For security reasons, we cannot comment on the First Minister's travels.»
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