Talk isn't cheap as parliament runs up a £470k mobile bill

THE Scottish Parliament spent nearly half-a-million pounds of taxpayers' money on mobile phone contracts for MSPs and staff working at Holyrood, new figures have revealed.

A freedom of information request by The Scotsman showed the public purse picked up a bill of more than 470,000 for mobile phones supplied to politicians and other parliament workers.

The bulk of the bill for phone use and calls, which were made during the 2007-11 parliament, was run up by Holyrood's 129 MSPs, who spent over 280,000.

Vodafone was handed the lucrative six-figure contract to provide the phones to MSPs and staff to use for official business.

A senior MSP claimed the parliamentary authorities were paying "top whack" for the contract. SNP member John Wilson called on officials to "shop around" for a better deal during the next four-year Holyrood term, following May's election.

The documents also showed that more than 124,000 was spent on ensuring staff on the Scottish Parliament payroll were able to use taxpayer-funded mobile phones between 2007 and 2011. There was also over 69,000 to cover the phone use and bills of assistants employed directly by Holyrood's MSPs during the same period.

Mr Wilson told The Scotsman that the figures showed a need for a more "cost-effective" way of providing mobile phone for official Holyrood business. Mr Wilson said: "Clearly in these times of financial constraints the parliamentary authorities should be shopping around for a more cost-effective provider.

"It looks like the parliament authorities are paying top whack for these services and it's an issue that needs to be looked at for the next parliament. I would hope that there's a more cost effective way of paying for these phones, so that we can get a better deal for the taxpayer."

The campaign director of the Taxpayers' Alliance, Emma Boon, said spending on mobile phones for MSPs should not "go unchecked". She added: "Those negotiating contracts paid for by the taxpayers should make sure that they are getting the best deal. With huge pressures on the public finances we can't afford to let spending in this area go unchecked."

Tory MSP Alex Johnstone, who is a member of Holyrood's corporate body - the parliament's governing authority - said the Vodafone contract was "extremely competitive".

He added: "It's a very good deal and saves substantially on typical mobile phone costs."

A Scottish Parliament spokesman said: "Our mobile phone contract was set up using a UK-wide framework agreement that enables public sector bodies to get best value for money.

"We are confident our mobile phone contract is highly competitive as we tested it against rival providers in 2009 and found it remained the most cost effective supplier."