22 Feb 2017
The Scottish Government spends more than £1 million a year on ministers travelling in luxury taxpayer-funded cars.
New figures have revealed the scale of the expense as the country prepares to mark Scottish Environment Week.
In 2011/12 ministers spent £1.07 million on the Government Car Service.
By last year that had risen to £1.15 million, despite claims from the SNP that it runs an environmentally-friendly administration.
In 2015/16 alone the Scottish Government spent £243,000 hiring vehicles, a new high, and £765,000 staffing them.
A further £11,000 was forked out on “travel and subsistence” while fuel costs dropped to £79,000.
In addition, nearly £50,000 was spent on repairs.
The statistics were obtained by the Scottish Conservatives through Freedom of Information.
Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Liam Kerr said:
“The SNP likes to pretend it runs a green-friendly government, but the reality is quite the reverse.
“Despite repeated claims to be a different kind of administration, it seems the nationalists are quite happy for ministers to be cutting around in luxurious cars funded by the taxpayer.
“Everyone appreciates the need for ministers to get from A to B, but many will question the sheer scale of these costs.
“It’s particularly ironic that this should emerge during Scotland’s Environment Week.
“The SNP is very happy to persuade other people to get out of their cars and find alternative modes of transport.
“Maybe it should be telling its ministers to be doing the same thing.”
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