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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

Members' expenses

MSPs can claim money back for "expenses" (costs).  These must be costs from carrying out their duties in Parliament or helping their constituents. 

Search MSP travel and expenses claims

 


Contents


Total costs for the financial year

The SPCB publishes a summary of all the MSP costs for a financial year.

Total Members’ expenditure for 2022-23 and 2021-22

In 2022-23 the total costs reimbursed to or paid on behalf of Members, or borne by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) on behalf of Members, was £23.468 million. This represented an increase of £1.2 million or 5.5% on the previous year’s corresponding figure of £22.241 million. 

Scheme 2022-23 (£) 2021-22 (£) Change (£) Change
Expenses 23,439,733 22,229,192 1,210,541 5.45%
Party Leaders’ Allowance 28,220 11,510 16,710 145.18%
Totals 23,467,953 22,240,702 1,227,251 5.52%

Detailed breakdown of Scottish Parliament expenditure

Further details of individual Members’ expenses and categories of expense are provided in the MSP expenses section.

The following information is reported at an aggregate level only for data-protection considerations

  • Salary, pension and national insurance contributions of Members’ employees in 2022-23 was £19,149,212 (2021-22: £18,532,152). This included winding-up costs for Members’ staff including Party Leaders’ staff of £74,359 in 2022-23 (2021-22: £2,354,255). Please note that a listing of all expenditure by Member under the capped Staff Cost Provision Scheme is published for 2022-23. This does not include costs such as Employers’ National Insurance Contributions, pensions or winding up costs which are met by the SPCB as part of the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme rather than allocated out to individual Members.
  • Total expenditure on childcare vouchers for 2022-23 was £7,932 (2021-22: £9,988).
  • Additional central costs met by the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme not allocated out to individual Members for Local Office Security Improvements and other security arrangements and centrally organised training was £123,553 in 2022-23 (2021-22: £38,710). Total Members own security-related and disability provision expenditure for 2022-23 was £30,110 (2021-22: £17,472).

All other expenditure under the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme is available in the Members’ Expenses Scheme section, with detail for individual Members.

Equipment, furniture and office supplies

There are arrangements in place for the central provision of equipment, furniture and office supplies to Members, the costs of which are not claimed against expenses. Equipment and furniture is procured for Members’ use but remains the property of the SPCB.

Stationery and postage provision

The Parliament agreed the new Reimbursement of Members Expenses Scheme on 2 March 2021 which came into effect on 6 May 2021. The new Scheme is as a result of two reviews carried out during Session 5, the outcomes of which are reflected below in the new Start Up and Engagement Provisions as well as the removal of the Surgery Advertising, Telecommunications and Postage and Stationery Provisions.

Expenses rates

The table below indicates expenses and provision limits for 2022-23 and the previous financial year. 

Expenses 2022-23 rate 2021-22 rate
Start-up Provision - per constituency Member for first year following an election only.

Regional Members will be advised on an individual basis.

£5,000 £5,000
Office Cost Provision

Regional Members will be advised on an individual basis.

£17,700
£16,775 (Full year returned Constituency members)
£1,976 (To 5 May 2021)
£14,799 (6 May 2021 to 31 March 2022)
Engagement Provision

This new Provision did not come into force until 6 May 2021

£14,500
£12,108 (New and returned members 6 May 2021 to 31 March 2022)
Staff Cost Provision

£139,200

£129,682 (Full year)
£9,254 (Returned members 1 April 2021 to 5 May 2021)
£120,428 (Returned members and new members 6 May 2021 to 31 March 2022)
£8,990 (Members who are standing down 1 April 2021 to 4 May 2021)
£9,619 (Members not returned 1 April 2021 to 6 May 2021)
Edinburgh accommodation
Annual Provision

£17,300

£16,000 (Full year)
£1,534 (1 April 2021 to 5 May 2021)
£14,466 (6 May 2021 to 31 March 2022)
Overnight Limit £189 £175
Overnight Expenses
London, Brussels, Strasbourg £220 £204
UK (excluding Greater London) £189 £175

Surgery Advertising

Provision ceased after 5 May 2021

£0 £193

Telecommunications

Provision ceased after 5 May 2021

£0
£146
Mileage
Motor Mileage 45p per mile up to 10,000 miles
45p per mile up to 10,000 miles
Motor mileage (continued) 25p per mile thereafter
25p per mile thereafter
Motor Cycle 24p per mile
24p per mile
Pedal Cycle 20p per mile
20p per mile
Party Leaders Allowance
Party with 15 to 29 Members £22,536
£21,403
Party with 30+ Members £42,804
£40,653
Winding-up
Office Cost (Constituency Member). Regional Members will be advised on an individual basis. £7,567
£7,258

Pay range

The 2022-23 table below shows pay ranges for the generic job roles for Members’ staff.

Job Groups Minimum (£) Maximum (£)
Administration and Office Management 19,749 37,898
Casework 24,185 36,977
Communications 25,300 37,612
Research and Policy 26,583 46,652