It's doubles all round as SNP drinks bill spirals

Published on Thursday 29 January 2009 23:40

THE SNP government spent more than £36,500 on alcohol at hospitality events in its first year at Holyrood, almost double the bill posted by the Labour/Liberal Democrat regime in 2003-4.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "These ministerial events are for good causes and promote Scotland's interests."

He said the SNP had spent less per event in 2007-8 than the previous Executive four years earlier.

Among the hospitality bills released today was a 3,916.98 tab for a British-Spanish forum's reception and dinner.

A reception for those who helped to foil the terrorist attack on Glasgow airport cost 2,327.93.

A delegation of Georgian ministers drank just over 64 worth of wine. The total for the year came to 36,548.09 over 58 events.

The figures from the previous Executive's first year in 2003-4 totalled 18,804.36 over 26 events.

Jack McConnell's Executive spent 2,048.61 on drink at an international hepatitis C conference and 2,063.39 at another conference.

The government spokesman said the SNP administration spent, on average, more than 100 less than the previous executive per event and doubled the number of alcohol-free events.