Travel costs see McArthur top MSP expenses table

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur claimed £52,878 in expenses last year, the most of any Member of the Scottish Parliament in 2011-2012.

Mr McArthur’s expenses increased by 37 per cent, from £38,559 in 2010-11, a rise he attributed to the Scottish Government’s decision to scrap the Air Discount Scheme for islanders’ business travel last year.

“As anyone in Orkney will tell you, getting to, from and around the islands is never cheap,” Mr McArthur said.

“Following the Scottish Government’s decision in May 2011 to remove all business-related travel from the Air Discount Scheme, however, it recently got 40 per cent more expensive.

“In order to do our job effectively, MSPs need to be accessible to all of our constituents. This comes at a cost, though one that I am very mindful must be kept to a minimum.”