MSPs may not hand back profits from second homes
HOLYROOD politicians are refusing to say whether they will hand back profits of almost £2 million which they stand to make on their taxpayer-funded second homes.
In all, 28 MSPs, including six ministers, have flats in Edinburgh on which the mortgage interest is paid by the public through expenses.
The Edinburgh accommodation allowance is now being changed to restrict MSPs to renting or staying in a hotel, but there will be no requirement for them to hand over any profit they make when they sell homes which taxpayers helped them to buy.
A survey found none of the politicians concerned willing to pledge a refund to the public purse.
Meanwhile, former Labour Party chairman Ian McCartney revealed he voluntarily paid back almost 15,000 of taxpayer-funded expenses last year in a bid to "ensure public confidence" in the system.
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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