Cost of 'trade mission' involving Tracy Brabin is revealed

Mayor Brabin led the trip, alongside a delegation of 12 West Yorkshire business leaders, between October 7 and 11 - coinciding with the Nashville Healthcare Sessions Conference and Global Health Innovators Summit.

She said it would put the county "firmly on the map for international trade and investment" - but a national group representing taxpayers branded it a "self-important jolly abroad".

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has now confirmed the trip costs came to £19,574.39.

A WYCA document said: "All flights taken both internationally and internally were economy class. 

"The hotels the delegation stayed at were recommended by the British Consulate as safe and well-located and secured at a substantial discount. 

"The cost above includes in-market transportation and meals (excluding alcohol) for the full delegation."

The WYCA document said in addition to the trip costs, the "trade mission also had an in-market support contract (including travel and subsistence)" which came to £17,214.99.

The WYCA document said: "The in-market partners provided lead generation, programme development and management, on-the-ground support and logistics management, and secured meetings with senior relevant contacts at leading providers of healthcare services and hospital groups, space and aerospace businesses, and creative industries and music networks." 

'Number of investment enquiries after trade mission'

The five-day trip included 28 meetings and events with "over 100 new contacts met", the WYCA document said. 

This included Mayor Brabin and Nashville's Mayor signing an agreement to "boost West Yorkshire's health technology sector".

West Yorkshire's Mayor Tracy Brabin took a dozen businesses to the US in a bid to boost trade (Image: Pixabay)

According to WYCA, the "landmark agreement will help encourage the flow of trade, investment and knowledge sharing between the two regions".

A WYCA spokesperson said after the agreement was signed: "The Mayors plan to establish a 'Healthtech Bridge' connecting both sides of the Atlantic.

"In practice, this would mean greater partnership working between the two regions’ businesses, universities, chambers of commerce and regional Government authorities.

"It will see the UK and USA working together to overcome shared healthcare challenges through the use of technology."

The trip also included the delegation visiting the headquarters of existing US investors in West Yorkshire, including Cummins, UnitedHealth Group and Johnson and Johnson. 

The WYCA document said: "The team is currently following up on a number of confidential live inward investment enquiries from the visit which have the potential to create hundreds of highly skilled, well-paid jobs in the region. 

"Due to commercial sensitivities, we cannot reveal the names of the companies while negotiations are ongoing."

'A self-important jolly'

Before jetting off to America, Mayor Brabin said: "By coming together with business to champion our great region abroad, we'll attract investment, create good jobs and put more money in people's pockets.

"This public-private trade mission will help our businesses to grow and succeed by opening up export and investment opportunities in a stronger, brighter region.

"And here at home, our investments in transport, skills and homes will help create the right environment for growth by connecting businesses to the talent and finance they need to succeed."

However, Elliot Keck, head of campaigns at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Local taxpayers will be miffed at their Mayor's foreign mission.

"Instead of delivering for the residents of West Yorkshire, the Mayor decided to go on a self-important jolly abroad."

He said she was "role-playing as a trade envoy".

A number of Telegraph & Argus readers also raised concerns over the trip.

Robert Narey said politicians "should think about taking expensive trips abroad when lots of communities need money spending on local resources".

Peter Jackson said Mayor Brabin was having a "free jolly".

A WYCA spokesperson said: "Our trade missions have successfully achieved a multi-million pound return on investment, from securing 1,000 jobs from tech firm Mphasis in India, to signing a UK-first landmark partnership with Nashville, which will create jobs and prosperity for West Yorkshire for future generations.
 
“The Mayor is a formidable force for the region, and has developed trade and investment relationships as ambassador for West Yorkshire that will stand the test of time as we create a stronger, brighter region.”

According to WYCA, trade in goods and services between West Yorkshire and the US is worth more than £4 billion, with almost 2,000 local businesses exporting goods to the US.