Expenses Scheme

That the Parliament recognises that the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (“the SPCB”) commissioned and received a report from an independent review panel on the reimbursement of expenses for Members of the Scottish Parliament, notes the SPCB’s responsibility to present a scheme to Parliament, and therefore;

(a) by virtue of sections 81(2) and (5)(b) and 83(5) of the Scotland Act 1998

confers functions on the SPCB to pay allowances to members in respect of expenses or costs incurred in each financial year in accordance with the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme (“the Scheme”) annexed as Annex 1 to this resolution and confers other functions on the SPCB as specified in the Scheme;

determines that the various limits on expenses or costs under the Scheme are as set out in the Schedule of Rates annexed as Annex 2 to this resolution and that such limits are applicable until the SPCB exercises its power under the Scheme to uprate or vary them;

determines that the Scheme shall come into effect on 1 October 2008, subject to any arrangements made under sub-paragraph (vi);

directs the SPCB to make such arrangements as it may consider necessary or expedient to allow transition from the Members’ Allowances Scheme agreed to by resolution of the Parliament on 21 June 2001 (“the Previous Scheme”) to the Scheme, including, but not limited to, continuing in force any provisions of the Previous Scheme beyond 1 October 2008, making apportionments between the Previous Scheme and the Scheme or making arrangements for particular cases or particular classes of case as appropriate;

directs the SPCB that any transitional arrangements which it determines under sub-paragraph (iv) shall end not later than 31 March 2011; and

directs the SPCB to make such arrangements as it may consider necessary or expedient to apply the limit on entitlement to reimbursement of staff salary costs with effect from a date before 1 October 2008, whether by adjusting the amount of the Members’ Support Allowance under the Previous Scheme or by backdating reimbursement of staff salary costs under the Scheme;

(b) rescinds, with effect from 1 October 2008, the Resolution of the Parliament of 21 June 2001 in relation to the Equipment and Furniture Scheme;

(c) subject to any arrangements made under paragraph (a) above, rescinds, with effect from 1 October 2008, the Resolution of the Parliament of 21 June 2001 in relation to the Previous Scheme.
ANNEX 1 TO THE RESOLUTION


This is the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme referred to in the foregoing resolution.





REIMBURSEMENT OF
MEMBERS’ EXPENSES SCHEME
The Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme




CONTENTS

GENERAL RULES
The Principles of the Scheme
Administration of the Scheme
Publication of Expenses
Submission of Claims and Verification of Expenditure
Review of Decisions and Improper Claims
Virement
Pools
Miscellaneous Provisions

ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation in Edinburgh
Overnight Accommodation outside Edinburgh

STAFF COSTS
Introduction
Staff Salary Costs
Employer’s National Insurance and Employer’s Pension Contributions
Temporary Staff Cover Costs
Incidental and Ancillary Employment Costs
Redundancy Costs
Employment of Close Family Members

OFFICE COSTS
Introduction
Reimbursement of Office Costs for Members who Establish and Run Local Parliamentary Offices
Reimbursement of Office Costs for Members who do not Establish and Run Local Parliamentary Offices
Members Working from Home
Telecommunications Costs
Surgery Advertising

COST OF TRAVEL

6. DISABILITY

7. ADDITIONAL EXPENSES
7.1 Interpretation, Translation and Similar Costs
7.2 Exceptional Expenses

8 WINDING-UP
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Staff Costs
8.3 Staff Redundancy
8.4 Office Winding-Up Costs
8.5 Time Limit for Submission of Claims

9. DEFINITIONS

ANNEXES
Groups of Constituencies For Entitlement To Accommodation in Edinburgh
Constituencies and Regions For Entitlement