Parliamentary allowances
2008-2009
You may have seen a good deal of coverage in the press in recent weeks about the allowances that MPs can claim in connection with their work.
I have always believed that MPs should be totally open about what they claim and have voted in support of the independent audit of MP expenses which is now to be introduced.
Reform needed
Also I have always strongly supported reform of MPs' allowances as I think the current rules and system are wrong.
For example, since Parliament changed its sitting hours, and no longer sits late into the night or through the night, I can see no justification for outer London MPs like myself being able to claim the "second home allowance", or London housing allowance, so I have not claimed that allowance. I also personally decided when I became a MP not to employ any relative and not to claim for car mileage.
My allowances
So, in the interests of openness, I am posting below my allowances so that you know exactly what money I claim in connection with the work I do on your behalf. I have done this previously, mostly in my annual reports, but I wanted to publish them in greater detail.
The details below are for 2008/09, and I aim to publish these every quarter going forward, as soon as the House of Commons' authorities confirm the amounts.
2007-2008
Details for 2007/08 have just become publicly available, and are now on the Parliament website. This website also provides detailed background explanations of the different allowances MPs can claim, if they choose to.
Please note that my entry for 2007/08 was unusually large (by my standards), as I claimed an additional £17,603 for staff cover, to cover my legal (and moral) obligations to one staff member who went on maternity leave and to one staff member who became seriously ill, and went on long term sick leave.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to let me know.
April-June 2008
Additional costs allowance | £0.00 |
Incidental expenses provision | £5,315.89 |
Staffing allowance | £22,847.91 |
Communications allowance | £667.12 |
Centrally Purchased Stationery & Postage | £0.00 |
Travel Allowance | £446.00 |
Grand total | £29,276.92 |
You can download the complete breakdown of this quarter's expenses (pdf)
July-September 2008
Additional costs allowance | £0.00 |
Incidental expenses provision | £5,406.24 |
Staffing allowance | £22,361.73 |
Communications allowance | £0.00 |
Centrally Purchased Stationery & Postage | £0.00 |
Travel Allowance | £575.00 |
Grand total | £28,342.97 |
You can download the complete breakdown of this quarter's expenses (pdf)
October-December 2008
Additional costs allowance | £0.00 |
Incidental expenses provision | £5,193.68 |
Staffing allowance | £23,771.32 |
Communications allowance | £585.90 |
Centrally Purchased Stationery & Postage | £0.00 |
Travel Allowance | £742.40 |
Grand total | £30,293.30 |
You can download the complete breakdown of this quarter's expenses (pdf)
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