THE allowances claimed in 2016/17 by the three MSPs with offices in the Borders have been published by the Scottish Parliament.

Topping the list is the Conservative John Lamont, who represented Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire until April when he resigned that seat to successfully stand as MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk in May.

In his last full year at Holyrood, Mr Lamont, who had an office in Hawick, claimed total allowances of £34,217, with 436 separate claims comprising Edinburgh hotels £4,111 (35 claims), member’s travel £6,845 (224), office provision £17,775 (108), staff travel £1,627 (37), telecommunications £1,337 (14) and surgery advertising £2,489 (16).

Christine Grahame, the SNP MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale with an office in Galashiels, claimed total allowances of £19,249 with 176 separate claims comprising member’s travel £972 (75 claims), office provision £16,458 (75), staff travel £220 (nine); telecommunications £688 (10) and surgery advertising £813 (three).

SNP Paul Wheelhouse, the South Scotland list MSP with an office in Hawick, claimed allowances totalling £16,169 with 96 separate claims comprising Edinburgh accommodation £5,933 (30 claims), member’s travel £375 (12), office provision £9,246 (40) and telecommunications £555 (13).

The five-year allowance totals from 2012/13 to 2016/17 for the three MSPs are as follows: Mr Lamont £168,844, Ms Grahame £98,830 and Mr Wheelhouse £85,962.

Meanwhile, the allowances paid to Rachael Hamilton, who was elected as a South Scotland list MSP for the Conservatives in May 2016 and then won the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire seat, cover the 10 months to March 31, 2017.

During that period, Mrs Hamilton received £13,962 in allowances for 118 separate claims comprising £11,034 for Edinburgh hotels and accommodation (17 claims), office costs for advertising, hall hire for surgeries, printing and photocopying £761 (13) and staff travel £78.60.