SCOTTISH peers claimed a fortune in expenses and daily allowance during the pandemic, with the figure almost reaching one million.
But who are the worst offenders and those with the biggest claims between April 2020 and July 2021?
Scroll down to find out.
READ MORE: 40 Scottish peers claim 'eye-watering' almost £1m during Covid-19 pandemic
Name: Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, Midlothian
Party: Labour
Background: Foulkes served as an MP in the House of Commons between 1979 and 2005, and held the title of Minister of State at the Scotland Office between 2001 and 2002 under Prime Minister Tony Blair and was given a life peerage in 2005. He also served as an MSP between 2007 and 2011.
Number of days attended House of Lords: 216
Daily allowance: £55,936
Travel expenses: £8707
Total claim: £64,643
Name: Lord Purvis of Tweed, Scottish Borders
Party: LibDem
Background: Purvis served as an MSP in Holyrood for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale between 2003 and 2011, and served as the party’s shadow finance secretary. He joined the Lords in 2013 and is one of the youngest life peers in the house.
Number of days attended House of Lords: 192
Daily allowance claimed: £49,444
Expenses claimed: £13,702
Total claim: £63,146
Name: Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale, Stirlingshire
Party: Labour
Background: McConnell served as First Minister of Scotland between 2001 and 2007, and was an MSP between 1999 and 2011. He previously held the role of a councillor in Stirling between 1984 and 1993. McConnell was made a life peer in 2010.
Number of days attended House of Lords: 193
Daily allowance claimed: £53,323
Expenses claimed: £8834
Total claim: £62,157
Name: Lord Elder, Glasgow
Party: Labour
Background: A former political adviser to Tony Blair, Elder was made a life peer in 1999 and currently serves on the Covid-19 Lords committee.
Number of days attended House of Lords: 156
Daily allowance claimed: £45,878
Expenses claimed: £7505
Total claim: £53,383
Name: Lord Palmer, Scottish Borders
Party: Crossbench
Background: Palmer is one of ninety hereditary peers who were elected to remain in the House of Lords in 1999. He has served in the chamber since 1990, after he succeeded his uncle in the peerage.
Number of days attended House of Lords: 123
Daily allowance claimed: £38,437
Expenses claimed: £7880
Total claim: £46,317
Name: Baroness Goldie, Renfrewshire
Party: Conservative
Background: Goldie served as an MSP for the West of Scotland region from 1999 until 2016, and was the leader of the Scottish Tory party from 2005 until 2011. She joined the House of Lords in October 2013 and currently serves as minister of state at the Ministry of Defence.
Number of days attended House of Lords: 132
Daily allowance claimed: £34,254
Expenses claimed: £10,624
Total claim: £44,878
Name: Lord Strathclyde, Ayrshire
Party: Conservative
Background: Strathclyde is another hereditary peer and entered the house in 1985. He served as parliamentary under-secretary at the Scotland Office between 1990 and 1992, as the minister of state at the Department of Trade and Industry between 1992 and 1994, and as Leader of the House of Lords between 2010 and 2013, before resigning from the role to pursue a “career in business”.
Number of days attended House of Lords: 140
Daily allowance claimed: £34,239
Expenses claimed: £7611
Total claim: £41,850
Name: Lord Maxton, Scotland
Party: Labour
Background: Maxton served as the MP for Glasgow Cathcart between 1979 and 2001, having been elected five times to the post. He stood down in the 2001 general election and was given a life peerage in 2004.
Number of days attended House of Lords: 117
Daily allowance claimed: £30,217
Expenses claimed: £8071
Total claim: £38,288
Name: Lord Hope of Craighead, Edinburgh
Party: Crossbench
Background: Hope was given a life peerage in 2005 and has served on numerous committees in the Lords. He was the first Deputy President of the Supreme Court between 2009 and 2013 and was Dean of the Faculty of Advocates between 1986 and 1989.
Number of days attended House of Lords: 152
Daily allowance claimed: £35,563
Expenses claimed: £229
Total claim: £35,792
Name: Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, Stirling
Party: Conservative
Background: Forsyth was the MP for Stirling from 1983 to 1997 and served as secretary of state for Scotland under John Major from 1995 to 1997. He was knighted in 1997 and appointed to the House of Lords in 1999. He currently chairs the Lord’s Economic Affairs Committee.
Number of days attended House of Lords: 151
Daily allowance claimed: £30,244
Expenses claimed: £3052
Total claim: £33,296
READ MORE: House of Lords 'good business' for Scottish Labour who claimed more than Tories
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