Scotland’s most senior civil servant was ferried about on a string of chauffeur driven car journeys of less than a mile at taxpayers’ expense.
Sir Peter Housden, who stepped down last month, was regularly collected from his office at St Andrew’s House and taken to the Scottish Parliament just around the corner.
Official files released under freedom of information also reveal he took trips from his Edinburgh home to nearby Waverley Train Station and the Balmoral Hotel in an official car which would have taken just minutes on foot.
In one of the examples he travelled just 500 yards.
The Scottish Government defended Sir Peter’s use of the service insisting it allowed him to work while on the move.
However, Eben Wilson, of campaign group Taxpayer Scotland said: “The idea that someone would be able to do work on a 500 yard car journey is ridiculous. I’d be surprised if they’d be able to get a briefcase open.
“The Scottish Government needs to get real and reduce the civil service and save the taxpayer a lot of money from unproductive spending.”
Ironically, during Sir Peter’s tenure the Scottish Government launched a campaign urging people to “leave a car when it’s not far”.
It was part of a £58 million push to get people to be more active.
At the time the Minister for Environment and Climate Change Paul Wheelhouse said: “Short car journeys create more pollution per mile and it’s in everyone’s interest for all of us to consider whether these are really necessary.”
In total Sir Peter took 83 short chauffeur driven trips, the majority of which were under one mile.
He also took 35 round trips to Edinburgh Airport snubbing the new tram system.
Sir Peter pocketed a huge pay-off when he quit his £180,000-a-year post in June.
Official government accounts have revealed he is in line for a £250,000 lump sum on top of an £80,000-a-year pension.
He said he was quitting “to enable my successor to come into post in good time for the run-up to the Scottish Parliament election in May 2016”.
Defending his use of the Scottish Government car service, a spokeswoman said: “It provides a secure place for the Permanent Secretary and Ministers to work whilst travelling, maximising time and opportunity to work.
“We do, however, continually look for ways to minimise the use of cars for official journeys and ensure the service is delivered in the most cost-effective manner, offering the best deal to the taxpayer.
“When practicable staff and Ministers car share, use public transport or walk to their engagements.
“During his time as Permanent Secretary Sir Peter, like all staff, took his responsibility to travel sustainably very seriously and aimed to use the most cost-effective and sustainable forms of transport wherever possible.”
Report by Graham McKendry and Siobhan McFadyen
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