The bill to the taxpayer for MSPs’ expenses and staff costs soared by almost 9 per cent in 2008-09 — six times the rate of inflation.

Holyrood’s 129 MSPs claimed £11 million, an increase of £876,587, or 8.7 per cent, on the previous year.

Figures from the Scottish Parliament showed that most of the cash was spent on staff and salaries. A total of £7.32 million was spent on staff, compared with £6.744 million the previous year, following a recommendation from an independent inquiry that staff salaries at Holyrood were low and should be increased.

However, the figures also showed that spending on office supplies rocketed by 31.12 per cent, from £363,743 to £476,931. An increase in postal charges was said to be the main factor.

John Lamont, the Tory MSP for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, spent the most on office supplies, at £26,952. Elizabeth Smith, the Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, spent the least, £146. A Tory spokesman defended Mr Lamont’s claim, saying: “It’s a large, rural constituency and requires a lot of work.”

A Holyrood spokesman said that a cap of £5,500 per MSP for stationery and postage had been introduced in April.

Scotland’s most expensive MSP in 2008-09 was Tavish Scott, the Liberal Democrat who represents Shetland. He charged £57,974, with much of his expenses being travelling costs. He was followed by Jamie Stone, the Liberal Democrat MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, who claimed £50,449, and another Liberal Democrat, Mike Rumbles, the MSP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, who claimed £47,186.

The lowest claimant was Anne McLaughlin, the SNP Glasgow list MSP, who claimed £1,815. The figures also showed that 26 MSPs currently employ members of their families, compared with 24 last year.

Expenses of MSPs at Holyrood have not drawn the same amount of public anger as those of their Westminster counterparts, mainly because of rules that require every claim to be published online.

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