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MP Spelman told to repay £9,600 MP Spelman told to repay £9,600
(10 minutes later)
Caroline Spelman must repay £9,600 of the Commons expenses she used to pay for nannying work - but any breach of the rules was "unintentional", MPs say.Caroline Spelman must repay £9,600 of the Commons expenses she used to pay for nannying work - but any breach of the rules was "unintentional", MPs say.
The Commons standards and privileges committee said the senior Tory MP had accepted its findings and "will pay back the misapplied sums".The Commons standards and privileges committee said the senior Tory MP had accepted its findings and "will pay back the misapplied sums".
Mrs Spelman had referred the allegations to Parliament's watchdog last year in a bid to clear her name. Mrs Spelman who had denied any wrong-doing apologised unreservedly after the committee's report was published.
She said payments to Tina Haynes in 1997/8 were for secretarial work.She said payments to Tina Haynes in 1997/8 were for secretarial work.
The allegation was that she worked primarily as a nanny while being paid as a part-time constituency secretary.The allegation was that she worked primarily as a nanny while being paid as a part-time constituency secretary.
Mrs Spelman, MP for Meriden in the West Midlands and shadow communities and local government secretary, had insisted that Ms Haynes was only paid with public funds for secretarial work between 1997 and 1998.Mrs Spelman, MP for Meriden in the West Midlands and shadow communities and local government secretary, had insisted that Ms Haynes was only paid with public funds for secretarial work between 1997 and 1998.
Her nannying duties were rewarded separately with free board and lodging, she has said.Her nannying duties were rewarded separately with free board and lodging, she has said.
'Misinterpretation''Misinterpretation'
But asked by the BBC last year about the extent of her administration duties, Ms Haynes said she had only posted letters, "took the odd phone call" and passed on messages "once or twice a week".But asked by the BBC last year about the extent of her administration duties, Ms Haynes said she had only posted letters, "took the odd phone call" and passed on messages "once or twice a week".
Critics have also pointed out that Ms Haynes was working at Mrs Spelman's family home in Kent, some 140 miles from her constituency.Critics have also pointed out that Ms Haynes was working at Mrs Spelman's family home in Kent, some 140 miles from her constituency.
The arrangement ended after the Conservative Party's chief whip told Mrs Spelman it could be "open to misinterpretation", and she appointed a new constituency secretary.The arrangement ended after the Conservative Party's chief whip told Mrs Spelman it could be "open to misinterpretation", and she appointed a new constituency secretary.
Mrs Spelman referred the allegation herself to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon last year in a move to clear her name.Mrs Spelman referred the allegation herself to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon last year in a move to clear her name.
She said she had been right to use her parliamentary allowance to pay Ms Haynes as she had done secretarial work.She said she had been right to use her parliamentary allowance to pay Ms Haynes as she had done secretarial work.
Mr Lyon's office said the decision to investigate was "exceptional", given it had not received a formal complaint about her conduct and the events had taken place more than seven years before.Mr Lyon's office said the decision to investigate was "exceptional", given it had not received a formal complaint about her conduct and the events had taken place more than seven years before.