THE Labour MSPs who stayed away from Holyrood will not be paid for the day, but the two Green MSPs who didn't cross the picket lines are taking the money.

However, a spokesman for Patrick Harvie and Alison Johnstone said they would be giving it to fighting funds to support lower paid workers who were losing pay by going on strike.

He added: "MSPs are not on strike, as we're not the ones under attack from the UK Coalition. The Green MSPs are supporting the public sector staff who have chosen to do so, including staff at Holyrood itself."

Mr Harvie missed a meeting of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, of which he is a member, and the opportunity of questioning power supply company executives on fuel poverty.

Labour said their MSPs had agreed to give up their pay for the day after deciding to stay away from the Parliament.

A spokesman defended the decision not to go into Holyrood saying it had been taken after approaches from trade unions.

He said the opposite was true of MPs who had been asked by the unions to turn up at Westminster to represent their constituents.