£36K Cost to Taxpayers of First Ministers' US Trip
18 May 2012
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“There will doubtless be many people in Northern Ireland who will find it incredible that at time of immense pressure on public finances our First Ministers spent over £8,500 in accommodation for themselves and five members of staff – which included two Special Advisers – during their trip to the US during St Patrick’s week. And at a cost of £20,000 it certainly doesn’t look like they went for the cheapest available flights either.
“To spend a total in excess of £36,000 in tax payer’s money during the trip seems outrageously excessive.
“One cannot help wondering how much the total bill for flying and accommodating the First Ministers around the globe is. They are certainly very reticent about telling us. In March of last year I tabled a written question asking them to reveal details of travel and subsistence costs incurred by their Department on trips outside Northern Ireland.
“Over a year later they have still to respond.”
Note to editors
Mr Allister’s question and the answer received were as follows:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) to provide a breakdown of the costs of the Ministerial visit to the United States during St Patrick’s week; (ii) which Ministers made the trip; and (iii) how many (a) staff; and (b) Special Advisers accompanied the Ministers.
We have now received all of the invoices associated with our visit to the United States in March 2012. The cost of our visit to the United States is broken down as follows:
Flights £20,453.90
Rail costs $1,015.00
Accommodation £8,553.60
Car Hire £4,657.90
Hospitality £1,480.44
We were accompanied on our visit by five members of staff, two of whom are Special Advisers.
