Glasgow SNP MSP Sandra White has expressed dismay at further revelations of expense irregularities and abuses at Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT).

Reports today (Sunday) reveal that a fact-finding trip by officials was timed to coincide with a Uefa cup final, and that SPT officials and elected members spent almost £64,000 travelling the world, but auditors were unable to examine the claims because receipts had been shredded.

Commenting, Ms White said: “People will be dismayed and angry at these new revelations, and we must now know that things have really changed at SPT.

“It is totally unacceptable that trips were being engineered so that officials could enjoy all-expenses paid trips to football finals, or that receipts were being shredded before they could be audited.

“The new leader at SPT must get grip and demonstrate that SPT is focused on public transport and not jollies abroad on the corporate credit card.

“Of course officials and councillors need to travel, but for representatives of a public transport body to run up thousands in claims, and with serious questions hanging over a number of fact finding trips, the taxpayer deserves to know that public money is being properly spent."