A world leading expenses system. No, not at Westminster, but it's claimed at Holyrood.
In the last 10 years the Scottish Parliament's substantially cleaned up its act when it comes to what MSPs can and can't claim.
It's often had to learn the hard way (see former Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie and the taxi-gate scandal).
But with the publication today of Sir Christopher Kelly's report into the Westminster expenses scandal, is Holyrood still ahead of the game?
And if it is, will it stay that way if - as seems likely - the Kelly recommendations are implemented? That's not at all certain.
Holyrood bosses today insisted it remains "a model of good practice and its influence across the UK is clear", but added they're "not complacent".
In June, Sir Neil McIntosh, the former chief executive of Strathclyde Regional Council, was asked to re-examine the Holyrood expenses scheme.
Sir Neil will be free to consider any aspect of the existing scheme he considers appropriate - including Sir Christopher's wide-ranging new proposals. So what changes could Sir Neil propose? And if he doesn't plug loop-holes in Holyrood's rules, does he risk putting a kilt on the recent Westminster scandal?
One of today's key proposals is the ban on the employment of close family members by MPs. Those relatives currently employed would be allowed to remain in post for another Parliamentary term (or a minimum of five years), they would then be shown the door.
Even before Sir Christopher's announcement today, the recommendation was causing uproar amongst MPs with talk of a "wife’s revolt". We're told lawyers have been consulted, and that some MPs may try to get round the ban by "wife-swapping"; employing each other's spouses as well as other family members.
Scotland is ahead of the curve here: since October 1, 2008, MSPs have had to register if they employ any relatives. The thinking being: if the parliamentary authorities, and therefore the public, know about it - then game on. Currently, 28 MSPs employ relatives - more than a fifth.
Among them Lib Dem MSP John Farquhar Munro; he employs both his wife and his grand-daughter - a double whammy.
Elsewhere, Tory MSP Ted Brocklebank employs his sister. For the SNP, the Enterprise Minister Jim Mather and the Housing Minister Alex Neil both employ their wives while the Deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon's mother, Joan works for her.
Scottish Labour MSP Helen Eadie has registered her husband since 1999, with her colleague Michael McMahon employing his wife and daughter. Some MSPs say family members provide reliable, loyal and convenient employees - others see it as feather-bedding at the public's expense.
Without doubt some of those currently employing family members will be reluctant to give them up. But if, as seems likely, the Kelly report is implemented at Westminster, Holyrood could quickly find itself alone in still allowing the practice.
Last year the European Parliament banned MEPs using public funds to employ close family members - a panel in Wales has also called for a toughening of rules at the Welsh Assembly.
Nationalist MSP John Wilson says Holyrood authorities must now take action, banning the recruitment of any more relatives. Significantly, he claims "serious questions" exist about the "fairness" of the recruitment process when it comes to the employment of family members, a powerful argument.
For now he appears to be a lonely voice for change. But in other areas Holyrood is already well placed. Sir Christopher and his committee want an end to the payment of mortgage interest on MPs' second homes, favouring the payment of rent instead.
As a quid pro quo MPs working late in the Commons will have their transport home or overnight stay in London reimbursed.
In Scotland, Holyrood's already moved to ban the payment of mortgage interest (although MSPs currently claiming for second homes can continue to do so until the end of this parliament in March 2011).
That means the practice will end in Edinburgh around four years earlier than it would do at Westminster. Today's report also wants all MPs who live within a "reasonable" commuting distance to do just that - again a principle already built into the Holyrood system.
Only those MSPs from far flung constituencies can rent a flat in the vicinity of the Scottish Parliament. MPs could also be prevented from claiming cleaning, gardening and interior design costs - such payments have never been authorised at Holyrood.
But elsewhere MSPs could soon end up with a relatively more generous deal compared to MPs than they have now. Sir Christopher wants MPs who can commute to pay for it themselves - in Scotland the deal is currently more generous with all MSPs able to re-claim such costs.
He also wants to tighten the lucrative system of resettlement grants - the so-called "golden handshakes" given to MPs when they leave Parliament. Currently MPs get between £32,383 and £64,766, depending on the age and length of their service, with the first £30,000 tax free.
Sir Christopher says those retiring voluntarily should receive only eight weeks pay, with MPs who are defeated at an election or deselected given the equivalent of nine months' salary. In Scotland MSPs receive a payment worth 50% of their final salary (MSPs earn a basic salary of £55,381 a year).
But if the resettlement deal offered at Westminster is tightened, watch out for a re-think at Holyrood too. Finally, all expenses claimed for by MPs will have to be support by receipts - in Scotland such evidence is already published in enormous detail on the Scottish Parliament's website.
Overall, Holyrood has led the way on expenses - sometimes voluntarily, at other points as a result of media attention. The report by Sir Christopher Kelly could force more changes and this time the Scottish Parliament could have to play catch up.
And in this M.O.T., it's Scotland's MSPs who may soon be facing an expensive bill.
Last updated: 05 November 2009, 16:44
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