THE MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock says he's "pleased" to learn his expenses are among the lowest for Scotland's Westminster representatives.

Allan Dorans' expenses for the 2021-22 financial year were up by around £30,000 on the previous 12 months - partly reflecting the impact of Covid on MPs' activities in 2020-21.

For 2021-22, Mr Dorans' expenses totalled £185,193.80.

Figures from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority show how much each of the UK's MPs claimed during the year

For Mr Dorans, as with most MPs, staffing costs again comprised the largest share of his expense claim, making up nearly £143,000 of the total - compared to £133,506 for the previous year.

Mr Dorans' office costs were up by just over £1,000, to £16,609.

His travel and accommodation costs rose significantly - in large part because of the easing of Covid restrictions and the return to in-person sittings in the House of Commons.

Mr Dorans' travel and accommodation costs were £2,755 in 2020-21 - but rose to £21,655 the following year.

He said: "I am very pleased to note that I have one of the lowest business costs of the 59 Scottish MPs in this last financial year. 

"All MPs have varying need to incur business costs and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on other MPs' expenditure.

"However, I am personally very conscious that the expenditure budget is provided from the public purse, and I am therefore very careful in all areas where spending is required.

"I have a very modest constituency office, minimal equipment, business and IT costs and the absolute minimum number of staff which I require to provide a service to my constituents in Ayr, Carrick, and Cumnock."

Neil Gray (Airdrie and Shotts) had the lowest total of all Scottish MPs, a total of £61,632 - though Mr Gray's total did not, according to the full list, include any office or staffing expenses.

According to the figures, Mr Gray was one of only three MPs for Scottish seats with a lower expenses total than Mr Dorans - the others being Margaret Ferrier, the disgraced former SNP MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, and the Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack.

Ms Ferrier pleaded guilty last year to breaching Covid regulations by going to a variety of locations, including Prestwick, when she should have been isolating, and currently sits as an independent

Mr Jack, in addition to his Cabinet role, serves as the Conservative MP for Dumfries and Galloway; his expenses total was just £47 less than Mr Dorans.

The largest total for any Scottish MP was Owen Thompson (SNP, Midlothian), whose expenses came to £287,710 - though the table for the whole of the UK was topped by Brendan Clarke-Smith, who represents Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire for the Conservatives, and whose expenses totalled £295,209.