Historic Scotland has spent almost £200,000 a year on staff uniforms and costumes over the past five years, it has emerged.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that the government-funded heritage body has bought £900,000 worth of clothing over the past five years.

More than £500,000 was spent on uniforms for 300 staff, including bespoke tartan trousers, kilts, wool jackets and cloaks for staff at Edinburgh Castle at a cost of £188,000.

The body spent £35,000 on costumes for community workshops, including Elizabethan dresses worn by inmates at Cornton Vale prison, who dressed up as ladies from the court of Mary Queen of Scots.

The clothing bill peaked in 2007/08, when £262,000 was spent, including £188,500 on uniforms, £15,000 on costumes, £13,000 on footwear and £46,000 on protective clothing for stonemasons and archaeologists. Last year, the bill was £206,000.

The expenditure has been criticised by politicians and taxpayers’ groups, who claim it is an extravagance.

Derek Brownlee MSP, the Conservative finance spokesman, said that some of the money would be better spent cutting the “extortionate” admission charges for its properties.

“I would hope that Historic Scotland could minimise these costs because it is going to be under the same pressure as every other organisation in the public sector over the next five or 10 years.”

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Ordinary people would rather see this money go into improving public services.”

Two-thirds of Historic Scotland’s funding comes from the government, the rest is generated by its 78 properties.

Kari Coghill, Historic Scotland’s acting head of visitor services and business development, said: “While our procurement process ensures we get good deals on clothing, the items have to be specially designed, branded and of good quality.”

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