In the year 2007/08 I claimed £17,261 for the additional cost of having to have a second home in London. Out of that sum I paid £14,400 rent for the flat I have used since 1997. The other major expenses are: Council Tax, £1097.88, Water Charges of £266.13, Insurance costing £181.25 and other utilities.

I am pleased that the allowance system is being reformed to a more transparent and acceptable arrangement and to end the practice of “flipping” of second home addresses. It will also prevent those members who live within daily commuting distance of Parliament from claiming the second home allowance.

Whilst I am gravely concerned about the alleged claims of some MPs, I am also appalled that there has been such a major leak of personal information. Like all MPs, I have received a letter from the House of Commons Authorities warning that I should mitigate any risk to myself and my staff from personal information being released into the public domain.

All the receipts are to be published soon, when information such as addresses, signatures and other details regarding MPs, their staff and service providers have been removed. This work has been ongoing since last summer.

15 May 2009

For more details go to the Parliamentary Expenses page