Tories under fire for travel expenses complaints

The Tories have been accused of hypocrisy after complaining about travel expenses at Social Security Scotland – as figures show more than £272,557 was spent on travel at the Scotland Office.

Last month, Scottish Conservative MS P Michelle Ballantyne was critical of the social security agency for spending £72,650 on staff travel between 1 September last year and 28 February. However, following a Freedom of Information request by the SNP, it was revealed the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland spent £272,557 on travel between September 2018 and 31 March.

It includes £98,905 on air travel, a total of £60,974 spent on rail travel and £10,645 on tax is. Costs falling under the category of “hotels, subsistence & motor mileage” amounted to £97,596.