ALEX SALMOND spent £45,000 on food, drink and catering at receptions and nearly £3,000 on hotels during his last two months as First Minister.
The figures revealed through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
Documents provided by the government show that five of the six receptions hosted by Salmond were at Edinburgh and Stirling castles during his final weeks in the position.
The then-First Minister’s outgoings included more that £30,000 to cover the cost of two receptions at Stirling Castle to celebrate Scotland hosting the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
£15,364.20 and £16,038.83 was spent on the two separate receptions within a week of each other in November of last year.
The total figures include the costs of hospitality, food, beverages and catering.
And £4,244.40 was spent on a reception at Edinburgh Castle in October last year, to host the Brave@Heart award winners.
The award celebrates acts of bravery by emergency services staff, volunteer rescuers and members of the public who have been nominated by these bodies.
Salmond used Stirling Castle once more to host the Scottish Government’s Council of Economic Advisers at a cost of £3,340.02 in November 2014.
And the castle was also used as the venue for the Young Scot awards – where £4,104 was spent.
Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone said: “During his time as First Minister Alex Salmond managed to give the impression that he was ruling Scotland like a medieval monarch.”
