Sum totals as MSP expenses revealed
Claims made by past and present politicians Pervavoidsjail
Members of the Scottish Parliament claimed £12.8m in expenses in the last financial year, according to figures released by Holyrood’s finance department last week.
That’s a rise of £272,203 – 2.18 per cent – in cash terms on the previous year.
East Kilbride MSP Linda Fabiani claimed £23,882.29.
Her claims included mileage, taxi trips, telephone bills, office running costs and rent.
The majority of her costs were for the running of her constituency office with the annual rent costing £8031.08, utilities of just over £1034 and £667.17 in phone costs.
There was also expenses for water cooler costs totalling £585.92.
Her Edinburgh accommodation costs amounted to £1795.97 for council tax and £760.86 in utilities.
Ms Fabiani claimed 90p on a number of occasions for a two-mile car journey and £2.48 for an extension cable.
Central Scotland Labour list MSP Margaret McCulloch, who lost her seat at the May elections, claimed £22,417.17.
She spent £13,348.43 on accommodation in Edinburgh, where she rented a flat costing £900 a month in rent and £1718.52 a year in council tax.
Her constituency office rent totalled £1700 and she spent over £1495 on leaflet distribution and another £572.30 on printing and photocopying the leaflets.
Central Scotland Conservative list MSP Margaret Mitchell claimed the least at £16,509.01. Among her claims was 90p for a two mile journey from her home to her constituency office.
She also claimed £436 and £200 for annual fees for parking in Hamilton.
Ms Mitchell told the News: “It Lowest figure worked out more of a saving to do it that way rather than pay for single day or overnight parking.”
On the opposite end of the scale, Ms Mitchell claimed £1.67 for a screen and keyboard cleaning kit.
The Tory MSP spent the most on leaflet printing at £1,721.16.
She also shelled out £416.67 a month in office rent and £929.25 in utilities. A depraved paedophile who admitted having a stash of child pornography has avoided a jail sentence.
Alan Caven (58) appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday after pleading guilty to taking or making sick indecent photos or pseudo-photos of children being sexually abused at his home in Whitehills.
The offences took place at 14 Tivoli Court, between January 31, 2011 and September 10, 2013.
The case was adjourned for background reports on Caven including a risk assessment.
He appeared back in the dock for sentencing on Friday and was given a Community Payback Order, which included a supervision order, as an alternative to custody.
Caven was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.