The new Aberdeen phone book is being delivered locally, but one section of the business listings is perplexing North Kincardine councillor Ian Mollison. 

“As you do, I was checking to see that my own entry was there correctly. I also turned to the entries for Members of Parliament, and was astonished to see that it contains several West of Scotland MSPs, but not all our North East MSPs. 

“If you want the numbers for Pauline McNeill, Paul Martin, Trish Godman and Jamie Hepburn, then you are in luck. However why would anyone here want to phone an MSP more than 100 miles away rather than someone locally? 

“Even worse, Pauline McNeill and Trish Godman are not MSPs any more. One was defeated in this year’s Scottish elections, and the latter retired. 

“Maureen Watt, who was elected as the MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine in May, is listed as a North East Region MSP. 

“And not there at all are our regional MSPs Liberal Democrat Alison McInnes, Labour’s Jenny Marra, Tories Alex Johnstone and Nanette Milne, and the SNP’s Mark McDonald. Neither is Nigel Don, the member for Angus North and Mearns. 

“To be fair to BT, it does say in the phone book that if the MSP you want is not listed, then contact the Scottish Parliament. 

“Nonetheless it is seven months since the elections. 

“At least Sir Robert Smith, the MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, is listed.

“I have contacted BT to draw their attention to these anomalies. And believe it or not, they are unable to correct the mistakes as the company responsible is based overseas. Their staff do not understand how the Scottish Parliament works. I am sending them the corrected data. ”