Tony and Cherie Blair were nearly in hot water over an unpaid bill at their constituency home, expenses documents released by the Commons show.
Tony and Cherie Blair were nearly in hot water over an unpaid bill at their constituency home, expenses documents released by the Commons show.
The Blairs received a reminder notice from Northumbrian Water in November 2005 for an unpaid water bill of £147.
The Blairs received a reminder notice from Northumbrian Water in November 2005 for an unpaid water bill of £147.
"Your account may be transferred to a debt recovery agency. We appreciate that you may be experiencing some financial difficulties," the note said.
"Your account may be transferred to a debt recovery agency. We appreciate that you may be experiencing some financial difficulties," the note said.
Details of expenses claimed by 14 MPs have been released after an FOI battle.
Details of expenses claimed by 14 MPs have been released after an FOI battle.
The claims and receipts, which run to more than 400 pages, were handed out earlier by the Commons authorities.
The claims and receipts, which run to more than 400 pages, were handed out earlier by the Commons authorities.
They include money spent by senior politicians on running their second homes - including more than £10,000 for a new kitchen claimed by Mr Blair.
They include money spent by senior politicians on running their second homes.
Details in two separate receipts from 2003 show the then prime minister Mr Blair spent more than £10,000 on refurbishing the kitchen at Myrobella - his constituency home in County Durham.
Details in two separate receipts from 2003 show the then prime minister Mr Blair spent more than £10,000 on refurbishing the kitchen at Myrobella - his constituency home in County Durham.
'Adverse coverage'
'Adverse coverage'
Items included tiling and £1,000 on fitting a mantel shelf to the Aga oven.
Items included tiling and £1,000 on fitting a mantel shelf to the Aga oven.
The documents also include several of Mr Blair's gas bills from the same period - and a letter from Lloyds bank about the Blair's interest-only £297,000 mortgage on Myrobella.
The documents also include several of Mr Blair's gas bills from the same period - and a 2004 letter from Lloyds bank about the Blair's new interest-only £297,000 mortgage on Myrobella.
The documents also include a note about John Prescott querying his entitlements at his grace-and-favour Admiralty House residence, after "adverse press coverage" in 2005.
The MPs spent a lot of money on repairing their constituency homes - one invoice from 2005 shows Gordon Brown spent £4,471 on renovating his kitchen.
The MPs spent a lot of money on repairing their constituency homes - one invoice from 2005 shows Gordon Brown spent £4,471 on renovating his kitchen.
Peter Mandelson, at the time MP for Hartlepool, spent £2,981 on repairs to his constituency home a receipt from 2003 shows. Receipts also show he spent £100 a month on newspapers and £75 a month on gardening.
It's clear that this allowance pays for far more than just a base in London - MPs use it to fund a lifestyle far more comfortable than their constituents enjoy Matthew ElliottTaxpayers Alliance
Between 2001 and 2003, Margaret Beckett spent £12,170.67 on repairs.
Peter Mandelson, then MP for Hartlepool, spent £2,981 on repairs to his constituency home a receipt from 2003 shows. Receipts also show he spent £100 a month on newspapers and £75 a month on gardening.
But in February 2006 she had her claim for gardening expenses partially rejected - £600 for plants and pergola disallowed.
Between 2001 and 2003, Margaret Beckett spent £12,170.67 on repairs - but in February 2006 she had her claim for gardening expenses partially rejected - £600 for plants and pergola disallowed.
Among other expenditure revealed by the documents:
Stevenage MP Barbara Follett, the wife of millionaire novelist Ken Follett, claimed more than £1,600 for window cleaning at her London home, with the cleaners visiting on 18 occasions at £94-a-time during 2003-04.
Mark Oaten, the Lib Dem home affairs spokesman who quit over a sex scandal, claimed £145 for a new bed and £99 for a mattress in January 2006
John Prescott claimed nearly £1,000 for gas and electricity costs for his constituency home in 2005/06 and spent £6,707 on repairs to his home
Mr Brown's claims include a Sky TV subscription and television licence, utility and council tax bills and charges for service, insurance and ground rent on an unspecified property.
Barring one small claim for a telephone bill, David Cameron's expenses seem to consist only of claims for mortgage interest on his second home.
The documents also reveal Mr Prescott approached the Commons Department of Finance and Administration for guidance after press stories in 2005 over his decision to treat his grace-and-favour flat in Whitehall's Admiralty House as his main residence, while claiming on council tax and other bills for his constituency home in Hull.
The practice, followed by many government ministers who enjoy free accommodation in London, has been repeatedly questioned on the grounds that the MPs involved do not have to meet the expenses of a second home.
But Mr Prescott was reassured in a phone conversation that it did not breach Commons rules, according to a handwritten note by an official. Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It's clear that this allowance pays for far more than just a base in London - MPs use it to fund a lifestyle far more comfortable than their constituents enjoy."
Home addresses
MPs' expenses are published every year under nine main headings - including the additional costs allowance (ACA) to cover the costs of running a second home.
MPs' expenses are published every year under nine main headings - including the additional costs allowance (ACA) to cover the costs of running a second home.
'Unsatisfactory'
But for most only the total claimed is published, rather than a detailed breakdown showing what items had been claimed for.
But for most only the total claimed is published, rather than a detailed breakdown showing what items had been claimed for.
Freedom of Information campaigners argued that the limited nature of checks on claims, many of which did not require a receipt, meant the system was open to abuse and an Information Tribunal agreed it was "deeply unsatisfactory".
Freedom of Information campaigners argued that the limited nature of checks on claims, many of which did not require a receipt, meant the system was open to abuse and an Information Tribunal agreed it was "deeply unsatisfactory".
Last week the High Court backed the tribunal's ruling that details should be published and on Monday the Commons gave up its legal fight.
Last week the High Court backed the tribunal's ruling that details should be published and on Monday the Commons gave up its legal fight.
The claims at issue were made by 14 prominent politicians, including Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Sir Menzies Campbell.
A detailed breakdown of the expenses of all MPs dating back to 2004 - likely to run to more than a million items - is due to be released in the autumn and in future the information will be released on a quarterly basis.
A detailed breakdown of the expenses of all MPs dating back to 2004 - likely to run to more than a million items - is due to be released in the autumn and in future the information will be released on a quarterly basis.
The MPs' home addresses will be published unless there is a specific concern about individual security.
Home addresses will be published unless there is a specific concern about individual security - angering some MPs.
'Barking mad'
There are three addresses which have been blanked out in the material released earlier. The Commons was allowed to do this only in the case of a specific security threat to the individuals involved.
Some MPs are angry that their home addresses will be published.
The addresses blanked out are those of Gordon Brown's flat in Westminster, Margaret Beckett's constituency home in Derby, and the central London flat of Labour's Alan and Ann Keen - but their other address in Brentford is revealed.
Liberal Democrat MP Bob Russell has tabled a motion calling for a breakdown of the expenses of, and home addresses of, High Court judges.
As well as the Keens' other address, the documentation discloses home addresses at the time for Tony Blair, David Cameron, John Prescott, Mark Oaten, Sir Menzies Campbell, George Osborne and William Hague.
Conservative MP Julian Lewis backed Mr Russell's move in the Commons on Thursday, branding the release of MPs' addresses "barking mad" and claiming it opened them up to hate mail and attacks by "extremists".
The 14 MPs and former MPs whose detailed expense claims were revealed in the three separate FOI requests were: Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, David Cameron, Sir Menzies Campbell, George Osborne, John Prescott, George Galloway, Margaret Beckett, William Hague, Mark Oaten, Peter Mandelson, Barbara Follett, Alan Keen, Ann Keen and John Wilkinson.
MPs can claim up to £23,000 a year to spend on costs incurred while staying away from their main home - including televisions, rent or mortgage payments and, without providing a receipt, up to £400 a month for food.
The Commons is conducting its own inquiry into MPs' pay and expenses.
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