THE Scotland Office has been branded a “zombie department” whose spending has spiralled out of control, according to an SNP MP.

Margaret Ferrier has demanded to know why the departmental budget has risen by almost 20 per cent in the last five years when the Scottish Government’s budget has been cut by the Treasury.

The MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West claimed the increasing devolution of responsibilities from Westminster to Holyrood had left the Scotland Office as a "zombie department" and she questioned the need for the extra money.

Figures show the Scotland Office real terms budget, excluding so-called “non-voted election expenditure”, had increased for three out of five years since 2012/13.

Glasgow Times:

The 2016/17 budget had fallen by 0.4 per cent and it also fell by 2.8 per cent in 2013/14 but the remaining increases, including a 14.4 per cent hike in 2015/16, had resulted in a 19.9 per cent cumulative rise since 2012/13.

At the same time, Ms Ferrier pointed out, the real terms Scottish Government budget - excluding council tax benefit, landfill tax, stamp duty land tax and the Scottish rate of income tax as well as the £800 million capital budget increase pledged by Chancellor Philip Hammond in the 2016 Autumn Statement - had led to a cumulative 1.9 per cent decrease over the five years.

Earlier this year it emerged that communications spending at the Scotland Office had more than doubled since 2011/12 to £426,223.

"The Scotland Office has long been a zombie department with next to no responsibilities and with more powers transferring to the Scottish Government, as David Mundell so enjoys telling us, it would be interesting to hear his explanation for why his department requires such an enormous increase in its budget.

"We know that the budget for Mundell's army of spin doctors and publicity campaigns to promote the benefits of the Union to the people of Scotland has more than doubled.

"Perhaps he needs the extra help in trying to devise a believable reason for why he has U-turned on the single market and why he believes the people of Scotland should suffer Brexit despite not voting for it.”

Ms Ferrier added: "At a time when households are being told by Tories to tighten their belts and Scotland's budget which pays for public services is being cut so savagely to the tune of £2.6 billion by 2019/20, people are entitled to ask just what David Mundell has done to deserve his budget boost and what is he spending it all on?"

A UK Government spokeswoman said: "This year the Scotland Office has ensured the successful passage of the Scotland Act making the Scottish Parliament one of the most powerful devolved governments in the world.

"It is right we are resourced for the challenges in 2017 as we continue to deliver the remaining powers as well as making sure we get the best deal for Scotland and the whole of the UK as we leave the EU," she added.