INVERCLYDE'S MSP has claimed £37,000 in expenses in the last year - £1,600 more than last year.

Data published by the Scottish Parliament lists the bills racked up by all Holyrood politicians, including the SNP's Stuart McMillan.

During the 2017/18 financial year, the MSP claimed £37,060 worth of expenses.

That is an increase of £1,622 on the £35,500 bill for the previous 12 months.

The bulk of the expenses are for Mr McMillan's rented flat in Edinburgh.

A large chunk is for travel - rail fares, taxi hire and private vehicle mileage - for the MSP and his staff to get to and from parliament and other engagements.

Other costs relate to fees associated with the running of his Grey Place constituency office, including for heating and water.

Among the other claims were almost £2,000 on mailing costs, £72 for Living Wage employer accreditation, £20 on key cutting and 69p on an anti-bacterial cleaning spray.

Mr McMillan blames the £1,600 rise on the increase in the cost of goods and services.

The SNP MSP said: "Like most areas of life at present, costs are rising.

"With gas and electricity prices rising, the rent for my Edinburgh accommodation increasing and council tax increasing, this accounts for part of the additional cost.

"Both my staff and myself have undertaken additional journeys back and forth to parliament and elsewhere to undertake my parliamentary duties.

"This includes me travelling back to Inverclyde midweek to attend more constituency events as well as my staff travelling to parliament to support me with meetings, events and receiving training.

"I'm pleased that the parliamentary allowances system is open and transparent, it is the taxpayers' money after all."

Nationally, MSPs claimed a record £16m in expenses last year - up by £327,611.

Greenock-born Tory MSP Jamie Greene, who represents the west of Scotland region, claimed £36,334 during the year - up by over £6,500 on the previous 12 months.

Fellow regional representative, Labour's Neil Bibby, had an expenses bill of £25,303 - a rise of £200 compared with 2016/17.