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| Alex Salmond's Ryder Cup trip 'cost £470,000' | Alex Salmond's Ryder Cup trip 'cost £470,000' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The cost of sending a delegation led by First Minister Alex Salmond to the Ryder Cup golf tournament in America was almost £470,000, the Scottish government has said. | The cost of sending a delegation led by First Minister Alex Salmond to the Ryder Cup golf tournament in America was almost £470,000, the Scottish government has said. |
| The trip in September was part of a plan to "maximise the economic benefits" of hosting the cup in Scotland in 2014. | The trip in September was part of a plan to "maximise the economic benefits" of hosting the cup in Scotland in 2014. |
| The government estimates the event will generate about £100m for the economy. | The government estimates the event will generate about £100m for the economy. |
| Opposition parties criticised the costs as excessive. | Opposition parties criticised the costs as excessive. |
| In a written response to a question from Labour, External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop stated: "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. | In a written response to a question from Labour, External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop stated: "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. |
| "The Team Scotland approach in Chicago will help ensure we maximise the economic benefits of hosting the Ryder Cup in 2014 which will generate at least £100m for the Scottish economy." | "The Team Scotland approach in Chicago will help ensure we maximise the economic benefits of hosting the Ryder Cup in 2014 which will generate at least £100m for the Scottish economy." |
| The tournament at Medinah, near Chicago, provided a "unique opportunity" to promote Scotland to a worldwide audience, she added. | The tournament at Medinah, near Chicago, provided a "unique opportunity" to promote Scotland to a worldwide audience, she added. |
| The visit incorporated ministerial visits and business meetings, with the delegation also including representatives of VisitScotland, EventScotland and Scottish Development International as well as the Scottish government. | The visit incorporated ministerial visits and business meetings, with the delegation also including representatives of VisitScotland, EventScotland and Scottish Development International as well as the Scottish government. |
| Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson said: "To find out that Alex Salmond's trip to watch the golf cost all of us almost half a million pounds is eye-watering. | Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson said: "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? | "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." | "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." |
| 'Travelling circus' | 'Travelling circus' |
| Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: "I am generally accepting of the first minister's US trip, given that Scotland will host the next Ryder Cup. | Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: "I am generally accepting of the first minister's US trip, given that Scotland will host the next Ryder Cup. |
| "However, like most taxpayers, I am astonished that the costs incurred bear more relation to a head of state with a travelling circus than to the more modest expense which would have been appropriate and justifiable. | "However, like most taxpayers, I am astonished that the costs incurred bear more relation to a head of state with a travelling circus than to the more modest expense which would have been appropriate and justifiable. |
| "It seems that even when using taxpayers' money, Alex Salmond doesn't do modest." | "It seems that even when using taxpayers' money, Alex Salmond doesn't do modest." |
| Scottish Lib Dem leader, Willie Rennie, added: "When money is tight, spending half a million pounds on a trip to the USA has to be questioned for value for money. | |
| "It's right that Scotland was represented at the Ryder Cup but it can't be right to spend this amount on that representation." | |
| A spokesman for the first minister accused Labour of "breathtaking hypocrisy", while criticising the previous first minister, Jack McConnell. | |
| "They spent more than this on Tartan Day trips to the United States during each one of their last three years in office," said the spokesman. | |
| "Their attacks might have some credibility if it wasn't for the fact that 'million pound McConnell' was happy to splash out on treating himself and other ministers to taxpayer-funded trips like this on such a lavish scale." | "Their attacks might have some credibility if it wasn't for the fact that 'million pound McConnell' was happy to splash out on treating himself and other ministers to taxpayer-funded trips like this on such a lavish scale." |