Party Leaders’ Expenses Scheme Resolution

That the Parliament, recognising that the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (the SPCB) carried out a review of the Party Leaders’ Allowances Scheme approved by Resolution of the Parliament of 21 March 2002—(a) in exercise of the powers conferred by section 81(2), (5)(b) and 85(5) of the Scotland Act 1998—(i) confers functions on the SPCB to reimburse party leaders in respect of expenses and cost incurred in each financial year in accordance with the Party Leaders’ Expenses Scheme (the Scheme) annexed as Annex 1 to this Resolution and confers other functions on the SPCB as specified in the Scheme;(ii) determines that the various limits on expenses or costs under the Scheme are as set out in the Scheme annexed to this Resolution and that such limits are applicable until the SPCB exercises its power under the Scheme to uprate or vary them;(iii) confers other functions on the SPCB as specified in the Scheme; and(iv) approves the Scheme;(b) determines that the Scheme shall come into effect on 8 May 2026;(c) rescinds, with effect from 8 May 2026, any previous resolution of the Parliament in relation to party leader expenses.Annex 1Party Leaders' Expenses Scheme Contents Party Leaders' Expenses Scheme.. 11.Introduction.. 12. Principles and Rules in relation to the Scheme.. 23. Interpretation.. 44. Verifiable Expenditure. 45. Party Leader's Expenses Scheme Code.. 56. Publication.. 57. Enforcement 58. Uprating & Rates Payable. 69. Party Leaders' Expenses.. 610. Winding-up Allowance. 911. Party Leaders’ Expenses Code. 912. Complaints Process. 10  1.Introduction  1.1      The Party Leaders’ Expenses Scheme as set out below is given effect by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.   1.2      The Scheme sets out the provisions available to support eligible party leaders in carrying out their parliamentary party leader duties and the principles and rules party leaders must abide by making a claim for reimbursement under the Scheme. 1.3      This Scheme is issued by the SPCB with the purpose of ensuring the regularity and propriety of the management of public money and resources, which the SPCB is accountable for under the Scotland Act 1998. The Party Leaders’ Expenses Scheme operates in addition to the Members’ Expenses Scheme and imposes additional considerations for Party Leaders to those placed on them as Members under the Members’ Expenses Scheme.1.4      The Scheme applies to party leaders whenever they make a claim under the Scheme, and compliance with the Scheme is required under Section 7, paragraph 4, of the Members’ Code of Conduct.   Part A2. Principles and Rules in relation to the Scheme2.1      Any claim made under the Scheme will be made having regard to the Principles of the Scheme. These principles, which stem from the Nolan principles of standards in public life and inform the interpretation of the Scheme, are: Objectivity ·         A party leader is entitled to reimbursement of expenses which have been incurred only for the purpose of carrying out parliamentary leader duties as detailed in this Scheme.  ·         A party leader or a member of their staff shall not submit a claim unless satisfied that the expenses represent value for money and were incurred having due regard to efficiency and effectiveness.  Accountability·         A party leader is personally accountable for a claim, even if they delegate the administration of the claim to others.  ·         A party leader is entitled to reimbursement of expenses only if the c