Skibo conference 'waste of money'

Skibo Castle is an exclusive venue in the Highlands

Opposition parties have slammed a decision to stage a civil servants conference at Skibo Castle - the exclusive Highland hotel where Madonna was married to Guy Ritchie.

The three-day conference, which starts on Wednesday evening, will bring together government officials from Scotland and several Nordic countries to discuss European aid to deprived areas.

The Scottish National Party says that the £45,000 bill, which is being met by taxpayers, is excessive and plans to raise the matter in the Scottish Parliament.

But the Scottish Executive says the hotel was offering "favourable rates for a mid-week winter conference" and has defended the choice of location.

Madonna and Guy Ritchie were married at Skibo Castle last year

The event is the third "cooperation conference" of the Scottish Nordic Council - a body which seeks to strengthen economic and social links between the two areas.

Up to 20 Scottish civil servants will join 35 senior delegates from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the Faroes, Iceland and Greenland to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Deputy enterprise minister Alasdair Morrison and deputy finance minister Peter Peacock will also speak at two separate evening functions.

The executive will pay £26,000 of the total cost with the remaining £19,000 being met by the economic development agencies Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

But the cost and location of the conference was criticised by SNP leader John Swinney.

'Lavish location'

"While the SNP support this kind of initiative and building up Scotland's international links, the cost of such a lavish location cannot possibly be justified," he said

"It is a clear waste of money by the Scottish government. There must be far more cost-effective options for hosting this conference than Skibo Castle."

He said that the SNP would table questions in the Scottish parliament demanding to know who chose the castle and what the other options were available.

But the decision to use Skibo Castle has been defended by the executive.

John Swinney: Waste of money

A spokeswoman said: "Highlands and Islands Enterprise recommended it, on the basis that it was offering favourable rates for a mid-week winter conference. It was agreed by all the parties involved."

The executive spokeswoman added that the venue had been picked last summer, several months before the Madonna wedding.

"The aim is to discuss common issues relating to regional policy and economic development," she said.

The subjects up for discussion include the development of rural areas, e-commerce and information technology, rural tourism and sustainable development.

The two previous such conferences were held at Ackergill in northern Scotland in 1994 and Kyttilla in Finland in 1997.

Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie said the timing of the decision to hold the conference at Skibo Castle was an "insult" to Scottish farmers.

He said: "It is disgraceful that the Scottish Executive is squandering over £40,000 of taxpayers money to allow civil servants to live the life of Madonna in Skibo Castle.

"This latest executive PR disaster only adds insult to injury for Scottish farmers.

"At a time when our rural communities are experiencing their worst financial crisis in living memory, Labour and the Lib Dems decide to send 50 government officials to a shindig in Skibo Castle, for which the taxpayer will have to foot the bill."