THE top five highest expense claimants of Scotland’s MSPs were reimbursed almost £67,000 in quarter one of last year.
Here is a rundown of who they are, what they claimed and what for.
Stuart McMillan
The MSP with the highest total of claims was Stuart McMillan, Greenock and Inverclyde SNP MSP.
The former MSP for West Scotland’s claims totalled £18,418 for the first quarter of the 2022/2023 financial year.
He spent £7800 for what was described as “ventilation costs”.
The Scottish Parliament’s parliamentary piper also spent £1224 for a monthly surgery advert in the Greenock Telegraph, as well as £960 for advertising boards at Greenock Morton Football Club and Greenock Cricket Club.
Siobhian Brown
The next highest claimer was Siobhian Brown.
The SNP MSP for Ayr claimed £12,665 in expenses for the first quarter of 2022/2023.
Brown is the new Minister for Victims and Community Safety. She was elected to the Scottish Parliament in May 2021 as Ayr's first female SNP MSP, breaking 21 years of Conservative victories.
Most of her claims were for office start-up costs, office rent and accommodation near Parliament.
A spokesperson for Brown said: “Like every elected member, Brown has utilised parliamentary resources to support helping her constituents and representing them in the Scottish Parliament.
“2022/23 was the financial year in which Brown opened her office which accounted for the bulk of her expenses.”
Emma Harper
SNP MSP Emma Harper claimed £12,630.
She has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament for South Scotland since the 2016 Scottish Parliament election.
The bulk of her total expenses were for office rent, overnight accommodation near Parliament and car mileage.
She also claimed £310.45 for newspaper subscriptions.
Sharon Dowey
Scottish Conservatives MSP Sharon Dowey claimed £11,667 in expenses for the first quarter of 2022/2023.
Dowey, like Harper, also represents South Scotland.
She mostly claimed office rent, mailing costs and advertising. The Tory MSP claimed £11.96 for a Lyreco fast wireless charging pad.
Dowey also got reimbursed £2985 for rent for Edinburgh accommodation as well as £2932 in council tax.
Oliver Mundell
Tory MSP Oliver Mundell claimed £11,461 in total.
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dumfriesshire since 2016, he is helping to keep the Royal Mail afloat with a hefty claim of £6079 in mailing costs. He also got reimbursed for £2200 in printing and photocopying costs.
The rest of his expense claims were mostly for rent, car mileage and utilities. £15 also went towards office window cleaning.
