The minister in charge of environment took a taxi for a journey of less than a mile on three occasions in Perth, the latest MSP expense returns have revealed.
Roseanna Cunningham, who is cabinet secretary for environment, climate change and land reform, filed three claims of £4 each for local taxi rides last year, when the distances could have been walked in about 15 minutes.
Her office said she very occasionally takes taxis over shorter distances when she is in a rush.
Across Courier Country, MSPs received £437,626 in expenses in 2015/16, which is 1.5% higher than the previous year’s sum.
Eben Wilson, from Taxpayer Scotland, warned MSPs against “acting grandly” when they go about public business.
“Taxpayers have always thought that politicians don’t understand how ordinary people live. It looks like they still do not get it,” he told The Courier.
“We really need to see some reductions in these expense claims to show that they appreciate they live in a small country with limited resources.”
He added: “Of course MSPs need expenses to do their job, but they still seem to have a lack of respect for the fact that we pay for their junketing.”
Ms Cunningham, the SNP MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, a relatively rural constituency, racked up claims of just over £1,000 for taxi and private car travel in 2015/16, as well as £62 on public transport.
She has previously come under scrutiny for taxi journeys. In 2006, she spent more than £1,000 on cabs.
A spokesman for Ms Cunningham said she may take a cab because of a “time issue” but mainly uses public transport.
“She may need to get from A to B very quickly and taxi is the best way. She uses buses as often as she can,” he said.
Scotland’s 129 MSPs spent a total £16,281 on taxis.
Members across the political divide – including Jenny Marra (Labour), Alison McInnes (Lib Dem) and Nanette Milne (Scots Con) – charged taxis between Holyrood and Edinburgh Waverley to the taxpayer.
The walk is under a mile and can be completed in 15 minutes.
Graeme Dey (SNP) charged for a journey from the Scottish Parliament to Waterloo Place.
Former Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands Jamie McGrigor came under fire for claiming £163 for a night in a luxury hotel and £113 for a taxi ride to an airport during a fisheries meeting in Norway.
He could have got to the airport 10 minutes quicker – and for just £8.50 – if he had taken the train, it was claimed.
Among the party leaders, Scottish Labour’s Kezia Dugdale was the most scrupulous for the second year running, claiming just £3,900 over the course of the year.
Tory leader Ruth Davidson expensed £11,465 worth of costs, while First Minister Nicola Sturgeon claimed £13,242.
Elsewhere, SNP MSP Angus MacDonald claimed £61.99 for a book called Northern Neighbours: Scotland and Norway Since 1800 from Amazon.
Deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives Jackson Carlaw had the most expensive hotel stay from claiming £175 for a night at the Doubletree by Hilton in London in December.
MSPs are allowed to claim back the expenses “incurred in the carrying out of their parliamentary and constituency duties”.
The claims relate mainly to hotel stays, personal expenses, office rent, travel, disabilities and winding up offices.
The end-year total for all expenses was £12,770,924, representing a 2.18% increase on the previous year’s figure. That is a rise of £272,203 in cash terms.
A Scottish Parliament spokesman said: “Once election-related winding-up costs are taken into account, the rise in 2015-16 expenses is in line with inflation.”
Correction
An earlier version of this report incorrectly stated that Angus South MSP Graeme Dey had claimed for a taxi ride between the Scottish Parliament and Edinburgh Waverley. He had in fact claimed for a journey from the Scottish Parliament to Waterloo Place. We are happy to make this clear.
