This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7976508.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Dodds' expenses bill NI's highest | Dodds' expenses bill NI's highest |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Investigations are continuing at Westminster to discover how details of MPs' expenses were leaked to the media. | Investigations are continuing at Westminster to discover how details of MPs' expenses were leaked to the media. |
| House of Commons officials are trying to establish how details of the Home Secretary's expenses were made available to a national newspaper. | |
| Figures released this week showed North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds had the highest expenses of Northern Ireland MPs. | Figures released this week showed North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds had the highest expenses of Northern Ireland MPs. |
| Sinn Fein's five MPs, who refuse to take their seats, chalked up about £650,000 in parliamentary costs. | Sinn Fein's five MPs, who refuse to take their seats, chalked up about £650,000 in parliamentary costs. |
| The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew spent £138,272 and party president and West Belfast MP Gerry Adams accrued expenses of £137,943. | The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew spent £138,272 and party president and West Belfast MP Gerry Adams accrued expenses of £137,943. |
| West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty spent £136,423 and his party colleague, Mid Ulster MP Martin McGuinness, accrued costs of £136,423 on staffing, travel and office expenses. | West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty spent £136,423 and his party colleague, Mid Ulster MP Martin McGuinness, accrued costs of £136,423 on staffing, travel and office expenses. |
| Newry and Armagh MP Conor Murphy's travel staffing and office costs totalled £132,361. | Newry and Armagh MP Conor Murphy's travel staffing and office costs totalled £132,361. |
| 13th highest | 13th highest |
| Meanwhile, Mr Dodds' expenses bill was the 13th highest of all MPs. | Meanwhile, Mr Dodds' expenses bill was the 13th highest of all MPs. |
| The DUP deputy leaders' expenses towards travel, staffing and running an office totalled £171,609. | The DUP deputy leaders' expenses towards travel, staffing and running an office totalled £171,609. |
| His DUP colleague, Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson spent £161,095, with the South Antrim MP Willie McCrea spending £159,852. | His DUP colleague, Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson spent £161,095, with the South Antrim MP Willie McCrea spending £159,852. |
| David Simpson, the DUP MP for Upper Bann, spent £158,903 with his party colleague Sammy Wilson the MP for East Antrim spending £156,932. | David Simpson, the DUP MP for Upper Bann, spent £158,903 with his party colleague Sammy Wilson the MP for East Antrim spending £156,932. |
| The office, travel and staffing costs of Ian Paisley, the North Antrim MP, totalled £139,565. | The office, travel and staffing costs of Ian Paisley, the North Antrim MP, totalled £139,565. |
| SDLP MPs Eddie McGrady and Alasdair McDonnell both accrued expenses of £156,000. | SDLP MPs Eddie McGrady and Alasdair McDonnell both accrued expenses of £156,000. |
| Their party leader, Mark Durkan the Foyle MP spent, £149,364 and his constituency neighbour Gregory Campbell of the DUP spent a total of £136, 213. | Their party leader, Mark Durkan the Foyle MP spent, £149,364 and his constituency neighbour Gregory Campbell of the DUP spent a total of £136, 213. |
| The Ulster Unionists sole Westminster representative Lady Sylvia Hermon spent £134,004. | The Ulster Unionists sole Westminster representative Lady Sylvia Hermon spent £134,004. |
| The lowest spenders amongst Northern Ireland MPs were Peter and Iris Robinson. The MP for East Belfast spent £128,000 and his wife, the MP for Strangford, accrued travel staffing and office costs of £125,000. | The lowest spenders amongst Northern Ireland MPs were Peter and Iris Robinson. The MP for East Belfast spent £128,000 and his wife, the MP for Strangford, accrued travel staffing and office costs of £125,000. |
| Review | Review |
| Commenting on Mr Dodds expenses a DUP spokesman said the the North Belfast MP was a regular attender at Westminster and as a result his expenses would be higher than others. | Commenting on Mr Dodds expenses a DUP spokesman said the the North Belfast MP was a regular attender at Westminster and as a result his expenses would be higher than others. |
| The spokesman added that during this time the North Belfast MP was also the party's chief whip at Westminster which meant he had to make extra trips to London. | The spokesman added that during this time the North Belfast MP was also the party's chief whip at Westminster which meant he had to make extra trips to London. |
| A spokesman for Sinn Fein said the party used a flat and a house in London when their MPs visited London. He said the party's five MPs only applied for expenses that they were entitled too. | A spokesman for Sinn Fein said the party used a flat and a house in London when their MPs visited London. He said the party's five MPs only applied for expenses that they were entitled too. |
| The Committee on Standards in Public Life will start a review into MPs' allowances as soon as possible. | The Committee on Standards in Public Life will start a review into MPs' allowances as soon as possible. |
| MPs are paid an annual salary of £63,291 and receive allowances for the costs of running an office, having homes both near Westminster and in their constituency, and travelling between both. | MPs are paid an annual salary of £63,291 and receive allowances for the costs of running an office, having homes both near Westminster and in their constituency, and travelling between both. |
| In October 2007, the average claimed by each MP was £135,600 a year. | In October 2007, the average claimed by each MP was £135,600 a year. |