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| MSPs 'should not employ family' | MSPs 'should not employ family' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| MSPs should be banned from employing family members at taxpayers' expense, a review of the Scottish Parliament allowances system has recommended. | MSPs should be banned from employing family members at taxpayers' expense, a review of the Scottish Parliament allowances system has recommended. |
| A report by Sir Neil McIntosh called for the practice to end in 2015 for existing employees, with an immediate block on new appointments. | A report by Sir Neil McIntosh called for the practice to end in 2015 for existing employees, with an immediate block on new appointments. |
| A total of 26 MSPs currently employ spouses, children and other relatives. | A total of 26 MSPs currently employ spouses, children and other relatives. |
| Sir Neil was called in by Holyrood bosses in the wake of the Westminster expenses scandal. | Sir Neil was called in by Holyrood bosses in the wake of the Westminster expenses scandal. |
| He said the Holyrood allowances system was "robust". | He said the Holyrood allowances system was "robust". |
| But he added: "I believe that any expenses scheme which permits an elected MSP to access public funds to appoint and pay a family member as a direct employee carries an unacceptable risk of undermining public confidence and fuelling public cynicism." | But he added: "I believe that any expenses scheme which permits an elected MSP to access public funds to appoint and pay a family member as a direct employee carries an unacceptable risk of undermining public confidence and fuelling public cynicism." |
| 'No extremes' | |
| The recommendation on family members follows a similar one put forward under the review of Westminster allowances. | The recommendation on family members follows a similar one put forward under the review of Westminster allowances. |
| Sir Neil said MSPs could employ relatives of another Holyrood member, but would have to publicly declare such appointments. | |
| His report also said MSPs who had benefitted from the Edinburgh second homes allowance scheme, which is now being phased out, should give a "binding commitment" to pay capital gains tax is paid on properties when they were sold. | |
| Speaking at Holyrood, Sir Neil said the Scottish Parliament expenses scheme, which was recently overhauled following a separate review, was a "sound platform" to build public trust. | |
| He added: "We have not seen the extremes of the Westminster situation - no gardening, no cleaning, no home furniture, no payments without receipts, no second homes outside Edinburgh - but receipted claims subject to audit and all in the public eye. | |
| "It is to the credit of the parliament that this has been the case and that the scheme has shown itself to be robust." |