Kilmarnock and Loudoun’s MP has made use of a £10,000 coronavirus fund for home working expenses.
Alan Brown has used part of the fund to buy laptops for staff to work from home and a keyboard and monitor to assist his own working.
The SNP politician said: “We can argue the value of the sum, but ultimately MPs can only dip into this contingency fund for additional resource to assist home working.
“My office has purchased laptops to allow my staff to work from home.
“I have a new keyboard and monitor to assist my working.”
Mr Brown also said that the laptops are refurbished and have been purchased from a local independent supplier.
He added: “At one point myself and my staff of five were dealing with 700 enquiries – businesses and individuals looking for guidance; looking for support and money to keep going. Individuals with no money coming in.
"Constituents stranded abroad not knowing how they will get home.
"People worried that they were being made to work and whether safe working practices were in place. NHS staff and careworkers worried about PPE (I have raised several enquiries with the NHS and health and social care partnership).
“Of course, not one penny of this additional money made available will go into my pocket. It is not pay given to MPs. I believe the media has misreported this. I will not be claiming any money for additional utility bills either.”
An earlier version of this content described the fund available to MPs as a 'grant'. This has now been corrected.
