Lib Dems slam flights tally

TRANSPORT officials have been criticised for taking more than 600 short-haul domestic flights in the last year.

The Liberal Democrats called on the Scottish Government to "get a grip" on the amount of air travel done by staff at Transport Scotland.

In the last 12 months, Transport Scotland officials have also taken international flights to destinations such as South Korea, Peru, Venezuela and South Africa, including 33 flights to Dusseldorf and 17 to Amsterdam.

Lib Dem transport spokeswoman Alison McInnes MSP said: "Transport Scotland should be leading by example and using low carbon modes of transport wherever possible. They have stated that air travel should be used as a last resort, but took nearly two flights a day last year."