Former Scottish Secretary's 73p expense claims

by EWAN LAMB

Borders MP and former Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell submitted six separate expense claims for items which cost less than a pound during the 2019/20 financial year, according to statistics published on the website mpsexpenses.info.

Meanwhile John Lamont, Mr Mundell's Conservative colleague in the constituency next door again topped the local 'expenses league table' with 573 individual claims totalling £76,663. He comfortably "beat" his three Tory counterparts in southern Scotland and North Northumberland.

Mr Mundell's parliamentary and constituency expenditure added up to £66,689 for 565 items. He spent £19,746 on travel and £19,168 on accommodation.

The MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale made six individual claims for 78p, 78p, 73p, 73p, 73p and 73p in September 2019 for purchases from Banner, the office suppliers.

Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk MP Mr Lamont racked up £28,579 in travel costs. In addition he claimed £20,316 for accommodation.

In line with a number of other members Mr Lamont spent several thousands of pounds on advertisements for his constituency surgeries. There were regular payments to local publications including Gala Life (six claims each for £197.99), The Hawick Paper, JPI Media, Kelso Life and Jed Eye.

Mr Lamont did not seek to recoup money for any 'under pound' items but there was a £24 claim for a new toilet seat at his Hawick office.

However, claims for 96p and 84p - again for items from Banner - were made by Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Tory MP for Berwick-on-Tweed.

Mrs Trevelyan's 311 separate chits added up to £56,251, mainly consisting of £12,868 for travel and £23,168 for accommodation.

The smallest of the four bills for expenses in 2019/20 was submitted by Alister Jack, Conservative MP for Dumfries & Galloway who now occupies the post of Scottish Secretary at Westminster.

Mr Jack's 411 items came to a grand total of £51,557.66 with travel accounting for £24,618 and accommodation for £2,817. The lowest single claim was for £1.58 for a Royal Mail Response Service invoice.