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| Scottish councils spent £1.7m on baton relay | Scottish councils spent £1.7m on baton relay |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Scottish councils spent more than £1.7m on events associated with the Queen's Baton Relay, according to data obtained by BBC Scotland. | Scottish councils spent more than £1.7m on events associated with the Queen's Baton Relay, according to data obtained by BBC Scotland. |
| After visiting all 70 Commonwealth nations, the relay culminated in a 40-day tour of Scotland before the start of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. | After visiting all 70 Commonwealth nations, the relay culminated in a 40-day tour of Scotland before the start of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. |
| Glasgow, North Ayrshire, and Perth and Kinross councils were the biggest spenders. | Glasgow, North Ayrshire, and Perth and Kinross councils were the biggest spenders. |
| The main costs involved entertainment, traffic management, and publicity. | The main costs involved entertainment, traffic management, and publicity. |
| Glasgow City Council, which hosted the 2014 games, contributed £500,000 towards the cost of staging the baton's four-day tour of the city. | Glasgow City Council, which hosted the 2014 games, contributed £500,000 towards the cost of staging the baton's four-day tour of the city. |
| The baton - the Commonwealth's version of the Olympic torch - contained a message from the Queen, which was read out at the opening ceremony on 23 July. | The baton - the Commonwealth's version of the Olympic torch - contained a message from the Queen, which was read out at the opening ceremony on 23 July. |
| The data - obtained through a series of coordinated Freedom of Information requests - reveals many councils spent more on the relay than other local authorities representing larger populations. | The data - obtained through a series of coordinated Freedom of Information requests - reveals many councils spent more on the relay than other local authorities representing larger populations. |
| For example, North Ayrshire (£150,007) and Perth and Kinross (£112,373) spent more than Edinburgh council - despite representing a population a third the size of Scotland's capital city. | For example, North Ayrshire (£150,007) and Perth and Kinross (£112,373) spent more than Edinburgh council - despite representing a population a third the size of Scotland's capital city. |
| Some of the costs incurred by Perth and Kinross included fireworks (£6,101) and flights for bands and presenters (£2,869). | Some of the costs incurred by Perth and Kinross included fireworks (£6,101) and flights for bands and presenters (£2,869). |
| Some of the more unusual costs in the data | Some of the more unusual costs in the data |
| Other smaller local authorities featuring in the list of top 10 spenders included: South Ayrshire (£68,265); Renfrewshire (£55,122); East Renfrewshire (£48,295), and East Lothian (£46,752). | Other smaller local authorities featuring in the list of top 10 spenders included: South Ayrshire (£68,265); Renfrewshire (£55,122); East Renfrewshire (£48,295), and East Lothian (£46,752). |
| Most councils were awarded £10,000 grants by EventScotland, as part of their Games for Scotland programme meant to celebrate the relay through community-led events, to allay some of the costs. | Most councils were awarded £10,000 grants by EventScotland, as part of their Games for Scotland programme meant to celebrate the relay through community-led events, to allay some of the costs. |
| Aberdeenshire and East Lothian councils also received additional funding (£10,000 and £7,565 respectively) from Creative Scotland, and nine local authorities received £10,000 grants from the Big Lottery Celebrate funding programme. | Aberdeenshire and East Lothian councils also received additional funding (£10,000 and £7,565 respectively) from Creative Scotland, and nine local authorities received £10,000 grants from the Big Lottery Celebrate funding programme. |
| 'Excellent value for money' | 'Excellent value for money' |
| A spokesperson from North Ayrshire council defended the amount spent on hosting events which they said attracted more than 22,500 people. | A spokesperson from North Ayrshire council defended the amount spent on hosting events which they said attracted more than 22,500 people. |
| "The funding spent was just over £1 per head for the people of North Ayrshire and, we believe, represents excellent value for money, given the lasting legacy of community engagement and benefits. | "The funding spent was just over £1 per head for the people of North Ayrshire and, we believe, represents excellent value for money, given the lasting legacy of community engagement and benefits. |
| "Since the relay route for North Ayrshire did not include a visit to our island community of Arran, the Council funded 300 free return ferry tickets to bring Arran residents to the mainland and allow them to join in the End of Day celebrations. | "Since the relay route for North Ayrshire did not include a visit to our island community of Arran, the Council funded 300 free return ferry tickets to bring Arran residents to the mainland and allow them to join in the End of Day celebrations. |
| "Given the high number of community groups and residents supporting and participating in this event, the cost of hiring infrastructure - such as staging, crowd control barriers etc - was considerable." | "Given the high number of community groups and residents supporting and participating in this event, the cost of hiring infrastructure - such as staging, crowd control barriers etc - was considerable." |
| A spokesperson from Perth and Kinross council said there was a reason why they had spent more than local authorities with greater populations: "While we are the thirteenth largest area by population; geographically we are the fifth largest council area in Scotland." | A spokesperson from Perth and Kinross council said there was a reason why they had spent more than local authorities with greater populations: "While we are the thirteenth largest area by population; geographically we are the fifth largest council area in Scotland." |
| The spokesperson added: "By demonstrating that Perth can host big events... such as the concert which took place on the same day as the Queen's Baton Relay, we are able to increase the profile of the area." | The spokesperson added: "By demonstrating that Perth can host big events... such as the concert which took place on the same day as the Queen's Baton Relay, we are able to increase the profile of the area." |
| Similarly, a spokesperson from East Renfrewshire council defended its relay expenditure, saying its major events programme had generated £1.1m over the past few years. | Similarly, a spokesperson from East Renfrewshire council defended its relay expenditure, saying its major events programme had generated £1.1m over the past few years. |
| A statement said: "Encouraging people of all ages to get involved in sport is a key objective for the council, and naturally providing support for Queen's Baton Relay at a grassroots level - particularly in some of our more deprived areas, was very important to us." | A statement said: "Encouraging people of all ages to get involved in sport is a key objective for the council, and naturally providing support for Queen's Baton Relay at a grassroots level - particularly in some of our more deprived areas, was very important to us." |
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