MSPs’ £17m expenses bill, with £16k on taxis and a claim for 3p
AN SNP minister claimed a 3p telephone call on expenses last year – as spending by MSPs soared to a record £16.8million.
The bill – footed by Scottish taxpayers – rose by 3.96 per cent and included staffing and office costs.
The smallest claim – for the 3p phone call – was submitted by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing, dated September 2018.
Despite passing legislation forcing members of the public to go green, figures show MSPs’ spending on car and taxi use rocketed.
The most prominent cab users were Tory leader Jackson Carlaw and Labour environment spokesman Claudia Beamish.
It is understood Miss Beamish regularly takes taxis from Waverley Station to Holyrood to get to committee meetings on time – a journey of less than half a mile, about a 12-minute walk.
John O’Connell, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘It’s important that politicians and their staff keep taxpayers firmly in mind before spending their cash, but it’s encouraging that more transparency is helping to improve accountability.’
The figures, published yesterday, show expenses to cover the costs of carrying out parliamentary duties, staff and running a local office rose by £633,125, to £16.2million.
When party leaders’ allowances, and stationery and postage provision, is taken into account, the total claimed was £16.8million in 2018-19, against £16.16million the previous year.
Mileage claims for car travel cost £218,657 – up 6.8 per cent from £204,787 in 2017-18. Taxi fares cost £16,396, up from £14,676 the previous year, while £69,480 was spent on rail journeys, from £70,363 the previous year. Some £861.30 went on other public transport, up from £710.20.
The largest individual taxi bill was for Mr Carlaw, who made 188 trips costing £1,899. He said: ‘Taxi journeys are generally to and from mainline stations and my home address in East Renfrewshire, and to and from my Scottish parliamentary accommodation near Craigmillar – a cheaper rental than a property more central in Edinburgh.
‘I do occasionally walk, which takes just under an hour, but this is not always practical.’
Miss Beamish claimed for 126 taxi journeys in 2018-19, costing £876, and 14 car journeys, costing £116. There were also 24 rail journeys, costing £143, and nine bus journeys, costing £18.85.
At a climate change debate last week, she told MSPs: ‘The climate emergency is here. The cost of ignoring it vastly outweighs the cost of tackling it.’
Other claims included £556 for ‘banqueting snacks’ from Tory Dean Lockhart, and £492.24 for tea, coffee and sandwiches from the Greens’ Mark Ruskell.
Of the party leaders, the Greens’ Patrick Harvie claimed the most last year – £29,023.99.
Labour’s Richard Leonard spent £27,024.74, Lib Dem Willie Rennie £26,718.09 and Ruth Davidson, who stood down in August, claimed £13,487.82. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had expenses of £12,900.81.
Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland until August, had the highest bill at £59,177.97, mainly due to travel. Green MSP for Lothian Andy Wightman claimed the least, spending £2,674.65.
The Scottish parliament said: ‘Details of all MSPs’ expenses are published on the parliament’s searchable database.’
Fergus Ewing did not respond when asked for comment.
‘Walking isn’t always practical’