MSP staff to receive cost-of-living payment of up to £600

People working for MSPs will receive a one-off cost-of-living payment of between £300 and £600.

The extra payment will go to all staff who do not pay the highest rate of tax, meaning around 97% will qualify.

Staff earning the least will receive the largest payment.

The money was agreed by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, which is run by a cross-party group of MSPs.

On Wednesday, the SPCB said it recognised that the cost-of-living crisis was affecting MSP staff just as it is affecting wider society.

A Scottish Parliament spokesman said: “Similar to other employers in the public and private sector, the SPCB is taking steps to help low and middle-earning staff during the cost-of-living crisis.”

Those earning less than £32,000 – the UK’s average salary – will receive the £600 payment while those earning up to £43,000 will get the £300.

In April, the basic salary for an MSP increased by 3.4% to £66,662 after it had been frozen the previous year due to the pandemic.

Staff salaries went up by 4.5%.