Cool reaction to MSP fridge plan

Fridges in the new HQ will cost £22,000

Officials have confirmed every MSP in the new parliament building will be given fridges in their offices - at a cost of a cool £22,300.

Plans for the luxury touch emerged on Monday at the Fraser Inquiry into the construction of the building while an architect was giving evidence.

A spokesman said the table-top coolers would cost £168 each, plus VAT.

Scottish National Party MSP Fergus Ewing said a cost freeze - not fridges - was needed for the new building.

The decision dated back to 1998 when the Scottish Office produced a "user brief" setting out the requirements for MSPs' offices, a parliament spokesman said.

Scottish Office decision

"This included provision for a small fridge in each office," he went on.

"Before devolution came into being, Scottish Office ministers in 1998 had to take decisions, including decisions on the equipment that should go in, and the users' brief was the outcome of that."

The plan has been criticised by Mr Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber.

He stressed his demand for a halt to the parliament HQ's soaring costs.

"Instead, we are all to be provided with what appear to be the most expensive fridges yet assembled in Western civilisation," he said.