Parliament Workbench
Data: Official Report to 12 Nov 2026

Official Report · Committee

New Petitions

Scottish Parliament Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance (PE1054)

Tuesday 18 September 2007 Public Petitions Committee Petitions 6 contributions · 4 speakers

Speakers

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The record

6 contributions
Frank McAveety Lab The Convener · Glasgow Shettleston
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I think that most of us should declare an interest in relation to the next petition.Petition PE1054, by Mark Whittet, calls on the Scottish Parliament to review the legality, probity and compliance of the Edinburgh accommodation allowance and take professional legal advice to ensure that it complies with United Kingdom Government legislation in general and payment of capital gains tax by Holyrood MSPs in particular. Before being formally lodged, the petition was hosted on the e-petition system between 9 January and 7 May, where it gathered 19 signatures.Do members have recommendations on how to deal with the petition?

Tricia Marwick SNP Central Fife
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I declare an interest as a member of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. It was announced on 20 June that an independent panel would be set up to consider all aspects of MSPs' allowances, including the Edinburgh accommodation allowance. Given that that panel is now meeting, I suggest that we invite the petitioner to make representations to its chair, Sir Alan Langlands, and that we close the petition.

Frank McAveety Lab The Convener · Glasgow Shettleston
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That is a sensible course of action. Would we forward the petition to the review body or would the petitioner have to do that?

Fergus Cochrane
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We can do that, but the petitioner might want to submit it directly.

Nanette Milne Con North East Scotland
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Convener, you mentioned the declaration of interests. I have an interest in the Edinburgh accommodation allowance because I have a flat in Edinburgh. I presume that I should formally declare that.

Frank McAveety Lab The Convener · Glasgow Shettleston
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I understand that. In a sense, members' interests will be taken into account in the review process, but it is only fair that members who wish to declare an interest do so just in case.I thank members for their comments. We will close the petition.

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