The SNP Government has shelled out over £1m on private school fees for officials working overseas.
Taxpayers have been asked to pick up the tab despite cuts to vital front line services.
In a freedom of information request, the Government said all administrations across the UK may pay for the school fees of officials if they are posted overseas.
The bill was £60,000 in 2018/19, £100,000 twelve months later, £110,000 in 2020/21 and £170,000 over the next year.
The cost then soared to £320,000 in 2022/23 and £310,000 last year.
Finance Secretary Shona Robison on Tuesday announced £500m of cuts to pay for public sector pay rises.
The Government later confirmed ditching a commitment to universal free school meals for all primary pupils.
Robison has also been accused by opposition parties of starving state schools of cash due to the levels of money provided to councils.
Nicola Sturgeon’s government’s stripped private schools in Scotland of their exemption from domestic business rates.
The Labour Government plans to impose VAT on school fees from January.
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