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AMs bought iPods with allowances AMs bought iPods with allowances
(about 1 hour later)
Two Conservative members of the Welsh assembly bought iPods on taxpayer-funded expenses, it has emerged. Two members of the Welsh assembly bought iPods on taxpayer-funded expenses, it has emerged.
Opposition leader Nick Bourne and fellow Tory Alun Cairns submitted the portable music players, worth a combined £398, as office costs. Conservative leader Nick Bourne and fellow Tory Alun Cairns submitted the portable music players, worth a combined £398, as office costs.
Meanwhile Labour husband and wife AMs Huw Lewis and Lynne Neagle claimed £22,298 between them.Meanwhile Labour husband and wife AMs Huw Lewis and Lynne Neagle claimed £22,298 between them.
A breakdown of AMs' claims for their offices, living allowances and travel expenses was issued by the assembly.A breakdown of AMs' claims for their offices, living allowances and travel expenses was issued by the assembly.
Seven AMs claimed the full £12,000 allowed for second home expenses, and a further 12 claimed close to the limit during the 2006-07 financial year.Seven AMs claimed the full £12,000 allowed for second home expenses, and a further 12 claimed close to the limit during the 2006-07 financial year.
However, several AMs claimed either nothing at all, or in the low hundreds for the year.However, several AMs claimed either nothing at all, or in the low hundreds for the year.
Every claim has to be signed off by the Fees Office of the Assembly Commission, and there is no suggestion that any claim is inappropriate according to the rules laid down by the assembly.Every claim has to be signed off by the Fees Office of the Assembly Commission, and there is no suggestion that any claim is inappropriate according to the rules laid down by the assembly.
Members are entitled to allowances for second homes in Cardiff because they are away from their constituency homes during the week while attending the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.Nick Bourne (left) and Alun Cairns claimed iPods worth a combined £398Members are entitled to allowances for second homes in Cardiff because they are away from their constituency homes during the week while attending the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.Nick Bourne (left) and Alun Cairns claimed iPods worth a combined £398
In addition to claiming for an iPod, Mr Bourne, who represents Mid and West Wales, also used his additional costs allowance to buy a £120 trouser press, and has claimed a total of more than £5,000 over the past two years on his bathroom.In addition to claiming for an iPod, Mr Bourne, who represents Mid and West Wales, also used his additional costs allowance to buy a £120 trouser press, and has claimed a total of more than £5,000 over the past two years on his bathroom.
Mr Cairns, a South West Wales AM, also bought his office a £250 Dyson vacuum cleaner.Mr Cairns, a South West Wales AM, also bought his office a £250 Dyson vacuum cleaner.
Monmouth Tory AM Nick Ramsay bought his office a television, a stand and television insurance costing £814.98.Monmouth Tory AM Nick Ramsay bought his office a television, a stand and television insurance costing £814.98.
An earlier batch of second-home expenses, released in August, showed he spent £977.95 on a Sony LCD television and surround-sound system.An earlier batch of second-home expenses, released in August, showed he spent £977.95 on a Sony LCD television and surround-sound system.
Former South Wales East Conservative AM Laura Ann Jones bought a television costing more than £1,000 in January 2007. She lost her seat in the May 2007 election.Former South Wales East Conservative AM Laura Ann Jones bought a television costing more than £1,000 in January 2007. She lost her seat in the May 2007 election.
A Conservative party spokesman said there was no information on what had happened to the television.A Conservative party spokesman said there was no information on what had happened to the television.
Labour Local Government Minister Brian Gibbons, the AM for Aberavon, spent £16.50 on a Royal British Legion wreath, his office costs show.Labour Local Government Minister Brian Gibbons, the AM for Aberavon, spent £16.50 on a Royal British Legion wreath, his office costs show.
Expenses reviewExpenses review
The assembly has released information on how much AMs have claimed in the past, but this is the first year it has been done in such detail.The assembly has released information on how much AMs have claimed in the past, but this is the first year it has been done in such detail.
More than £26,500 has been spent - including on hiring temporary staff to compile receipts for the last two financial years - so the assembly can answer freedom of information requests on expenses.More than £26,500 has been spent - including on hiring temporary staff to compile receipts for the last two financial years - so the assembly can answer freedom of information requests on expenses.
AMs can claim up to £15,000 to maintain a constituency office, up from £14,400 last year.AMs can claim up to £15,000 to maintain a constituency office, up from £14,400 last year.
Those who live far from Cardiff Bay are entitled to £13,000 to cover a second home or overnight stays on official business - £4,100 if their main home is closer. The rates were £12,500 and £3,900 respectively last year.Those who live far from Cardiff Bay are entitled to £13,000 to cover a second home or overnight stays on official business - £4,100 if their main home is closer. The rates were £12,500 and £3,900 respectively last year.
There is no limit on travel expenses, though AMs are expected to take the most economical route, a spokesman said.There is no limit on travel expenses, though AMs are expected to take the most economical route, a spokesman said.
An independent review is currently being carried out into AMs' pay and expenses by Sir Roger Jones, Swansea University's pro-chancellor.An independent review is currently being carried out into AMs' pay and expenses by Sir Roger Jones, Swansea University's pro-chancellor.
A panel set up after a controversial 8.3% pay rise for AMs earlier in the year, has been gathering the views of the public.A panel set up after a controversial 8.3% pay rise for AMs earlier in the year, has been gathering the views of the public.
'Improve transparency''Improve transparency'
A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said the party wanted AMs' allowances to be released on a more regular basis.A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said the party wanted AMs' allowances to be released on a more regular basis.
"We believe that it would further improve the transparency of the system to release this sort of information on a more regular basis," they said."We believe that it would further improve the transparency of the system to release this sort of information on a more regular basis," they said.
"We have asked the Assembly Commission to fully consider the cost and workload implications of routinely releasing the information every three months.""We have asked the Assembly Commission to fully consider the cost and workload implications of routinely releasing the information every three months."
A Welsh Conservative Party spokesman said it had "always supported greater transparency in the work of the National Assembly and by Assembly Members".A Welsh Conservative Party spokesman said it had "always supported greater transparency in the work of the National Assembly and by Assembly Members".
He added: "Today's publication of AMs' allowances is an important part of that.He added: "Today's publication of AMs' allowances is an important part of that.
"All of these claims are legitimate and within the rules.""All of these claims are legitimate and within the rules."
A spokesman for Welsh Labour said all the claims published had been authorised by Assembly Commission officials.A spokesman for Welsh Labour said all the claims published had been authorised by Assembly Commission officials.
"As a group we welcome the transparency that this process provides," he said."As a group we welcome the transparency that this process provides," he said.
"These allowances are also, of course, currently being reviewed by the Independent Panel on Members' Pay and Allowances and the Labour group looks forward to engaging positively with the work of this review.""These allowances are also, of course, currently being reviewed by the Independent Panel on Members' Pay and Allowances and the Labour group looks forward to engaging positively with the work of this review."
A spokesperson for the Welsh Liberal Democrats said: "This publication shows how transparent and accountable the assembly is, particularly in relation to other democratically-elected institutions."A spokesperson for the Welsh Liberal Democrats said: "This publication shows how transparent and accountable the assembly is, particularly in relation to other democratically-elected institutions."