MPs’ Expenses
21 May 2009
The House Authorities will shortly be publishing all my claim forms along with receipts/evidence. For data protection reasons to protect others, I cannot publish this information in its entirety on my website but I have been through my files and completed the tables below with all the details.
In going through my accounts I have noticed a number of errors (some mine, some by the Fees Office) mainly in the arithmetic. In some circumstances this has been to my favour, in others to my detriment. Where this has happened I have highlighted it as a +/- error in the totals column. A plus means I have been paid too much, a minus too little. Please also see the information below.
On the information made available to MPs about their own claims for past years, there is no total figure for the year given and there seem to be some instances where they have put my April claim in with the previous year. For this reason I have not provided totals for each parliamentary year. Please see the Members' Allowances pages on the www.parliament.uk website.
My claim for 2008/09 totals just above £11,000 and I will be posting further details when I have had time to go through my records. The Fees Office have not yet made their records available to MPs.
Click here to see an example of one of my claim forms.
The whole series of revelations on MPs expenses has exposed a system in which we have been seen to be maximising the amount we can claim in expenses rather than minimising claims. I had rationalised my own claims on the basis of what I considered to be reasonable expenditure to meet additional costs of needing to live in London during the week, and working late Monday to Thursday (usually till around midnight) meaning that I cannot go home to prepare meals but generally eat in Commons' dining rooms four nights a week. I therefore claimed £8, or more recently, £10 a night when I paid for these meals myself. I did not claim for the costs of lunch as most workers have these costs. My claims for my flat were on the basis that I thought it reasonable for this to be of a similar standard to my family home in terms of furnishings and decorations. My son told me off when I told him I had put in a claim of £700 for a picture and he was right. As it happens, this claim was refused - but I should not have made it.
I would be happy to answer any further questions from constituents or local media.
For more information on MPs' Allowances/Expenses click here
