WEST FIFE MP Neale Hanvey claimed more in business costs and expenses than most MPs in Scotland last year, new figures reveal, costing the taxpayer around £243,000 last year.

Figures from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) show the Alba Party MP's total business costs for the 2020-21 financial year were £243,347.20.

The Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP's costs were up from £42,158.57 the year before, and were one of the highest of all members of parliament in Scotland.

By comparison, the average across the UK was £203,880.

Mr Hanvey, who was elected in December 2019, spent £204,600 on office running costs in 2020-21, including £173,200 on staff wages and £31,400 on other office expenditures.

And he spent all of his accommodation budget (£33,900), and a further £4,900 on travel and subsistence.

Dunfermline and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman cost the taxpayer around £203,000 last year.

The MP's costs were down from £207,713.15 the year before, and on a par with the average for all MPs.

Mr Chapman, who was elected in May 2015, spent £202,300 on office running costs in 2020-21, including £175,000 on staff wages and £27,300 on other office expenditures.

And he incurred no accommodation costs during this time but spent £600 on travel and subsistence.

The total costs of MPs last year rose by four per cent, to £132.5 million, with almost £300,000 going on hotel claims for just 49 members.

Business costs are the essential costs incurred by MPs while carrying out their parliamentary duties, including staffing, office costs and travel.

MPs cannot claim for personal costs, such as food and drink, during their normal working day, and all claims must be compliant with IPSA rules and accompanied by evidence.

The IPSA figures also reveal the 259 individual claims made by Neale Hanvey in 2020-21, with the most expensive single claim being for staff payroll – £163,285.75.

At the other end of the scale, the smallest one-off expense he claimed was 31p for stationery and printing.

The average cost of an MP was up 29 per cent, from £158,103, in 2019-20.

A total of 163 individual claims were made by Mr Chapman in 2020-21, with the most expensive single claim being for staff payroll – £149,938.77.

At the other end of the scale, the smallest one-off expense he claimed was 26p for stationery and printing.

Kit Malthouse, for North West Hampshire, was the most expensive MP attending the Cabinet in 2020-21, with total costs of £244,312.

This was compared to £178,406 for Prime Minister Boris Johnson and £168,109 for Sir Keir Starmer.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It’s important MPs have the resources to do their jobs but many taxpayers will be worried about the soaring cost of politics.

“The electorate expects politicians to stay grounded and keep costs under control, particularly given the COVID pandemic saw many MPs and their staff work from home.

“With taxpayers facing a cost-of-living crisis, politicians should be doing their utmost to keep their spending down.”