Downing Street Says » MPs’ expenses

» Thursday, October 26, 2006

MPs’ expenses

Asked about the release of the data today and the increase in the total sum, Mr Straw said that, aside from those which related to second homes and travel, all the rest related to the running of constituency offices and the payment of staff salaries. It was a complete misnomer to call them MPs’ expenses. He said his personal figures included the cost of staff in a very busy office – and every single penny went on paying for that. From memory, he said that the Senior Salaries Review Body had recommended increases in the staff allowance and the incidental expenses allowance, which he guessed would explain the rise. The car allowance had gone down. While he could see what the headlines tomorrow would state, unless his guesswork was wrong, they would be inaccurate. Mr Straw also pointed out that the figures for severance payments for MPs who had left the House, which were included, were considerable. Asked if he believed that, before publication of the details under FOI, the system had been open to slackness, he said he did not think that was the case. He explained that the "Green Book" set out clearly what MPs could and could not claim. The Leader said that the current system meant that MPs had to account for spending; it was also scrutinised and subject to audit.

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