Witness Expenses

The motion

That the Parliament determines that:
(a) allowances and expenses in respect of the matters set out in column (1) below be paid or payable, as the case may be, in accordance with Rule 2.6.2 or 12.4.3 of the Standing Orders, as the case may be, to a person who attends proceedings of the Parliament for the purpose of giving evidence or who produces documents in his or her custody or under his or her control;(b) said allowances and expenses be at the rates set out in column (2) opposite the respective entries in column (1);(c) the rates set out in column (2) be uprated in accordance with column (3);
(d) said allowances and expenses be applied in accordance with the set of underlying principles and rules detailed below;(e) the SPCB be directed to issue revised guidance and provide claim forms in connection with the payment of such allowances and expenses; and (f) that the qualifying date for such expenses and allowances be 2 July 2018.


ANNEXE A – OVERVIEW OF CLAIMABLE EXPENSES

The below rates are reviewed annually and may be revised. Any changes will take effect from 1 April.

Current Scheme (2017/18) Updated scheme (2018/19)
Accommodation (not including food/drink) Overnight expenses (including accommodation, food/drink)
Overnight stay £118.75 per night £156.00 per night

Subsistence (including overnight) Food and drink (not overnight)
less than 5 hours Nil No change
5 to 10 hours £6.29 max No change
over 10 hours £13.61 max No change

Travel by public transport Travel by public transport
Standard fares Paid at cost No change
Travel by private transport Travel by private transport
Taxi Paid at cost No change
Car 45p per mile No change
Motor Cycle 25p per mile 24p per mile
Pedal Cycle 21p per mile 20p per mile

Loss of earnings Loss of earnings
Paid employment £237.51 per ½ day max No change
Self-employment £237.51 per ½ day max No change

Caring costs Caring costs
Childcare £8.45 per hour max No change
Unpaid primary carers: replacement care cover for dependents for up to 7.5 hours N/A To be paid at cost

Other Other
Photocopying 13p per sheet No change
Postage Paid at cost No change
Video conferencing N/A To be paid at cost


ANNEXE B – WITNESS EXPENSES SCHEME PRINCIPLES AND RULES

SCHEME OVERVIEW
In submitting a claim, the claimant shall:-

(i) act in accordance with the Scheme Principles; and
(ii) comply with the Rules of the Scheme.

PRINCIPLES OF THE SCHEME

The Principles of the Scheme are:-

Inclusivity
The Scottish Parliament aims to promote engagement and participation to support and strengthen the work of the Parliament and to enhance parliamentary democracy at home and abroad.In striving to meet this aim, the Parliament recognises that individuals have different

No recorded vote on this motion. Most motions are never debated, and many that are debated are agreed without a division. Vote records are published from 2011.

LD 1

Party shown is each supporter’s party when the motion was published.

No contribution in the Official Report cites S5M-13005 by reference.