MPs Expenses Claims Published

As part of the new system for MPs expenses members of the public can inspect all MPs claims by going onto the Independent Standards Authority (IPSA) website. This will then set out all the claims submitted, the claims paid and the claims not paid. If you type in my name you will see the claims I have made. They are the usual items of expenditure for my constituency office in Hayes. I am finding the new computer system for claiming a bit of a challenge like everybody else but it is certainly improving my computer skills. We are still having a number of problems but I would like to thank Anne Simpson, a member of the IPSA staff, for all the courteous and good natured help she has provided us. You will see I have had 4 claims not paid. Two for car mileage to Parliament from Hayes to the Commons and within the constituency. These were not paid because I set out the claim as under the old system listing the number of miles but didn’t do a daily breakdown. I didnt know we had to but I know from now on. I believe that the computer system has been improved to help on this. By the way I am trying to use the train as much as possible and walking in the constituency (part of my fitness drive too) but it is much harder if Parliament is sitting late or I have to dash back for meetings in Hayes. I am trying a car share with another MP as well. The other travel claim was to drive to and from the TUC in Manchester. I did this because the TUC was debating my Bill on trade union rights that was going through Parliament that month and I was also speaking to meetings of trade union officials on it. I checked that this was in the rules but it still wasnt paid for some reason. I didnt bother resubmitting because I just didnt have time and so paid it myself. I drove because I couldn’t get a train back late enough to get back for a meeting early the next day. The other claim not paid was our office fax line. IPSA has lost the bill we sent in and I haven’t had time to obtain and send another copy. If you have any queries on all this let me know. As you know the Telegraph described me as a saint in their exposure of the MPs expenses scandal last year and I don’t want to lose that reputation.

submitted by John on 04 Feb 2011 at 11:57