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/uk/8041232.stm

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Minister in £25k security claim £25k on security in MPs' claims
(about 6 hours later)
Tourism minister Barbara Follett claimed more than £25,000 for security patrols at her London home, the Daily Telegraph claims. Minister Barbara Follett claimed more than £25,000 for security at her London home, the Daily Telegraph says in its latest leak of MPs' expenses.
It is the latest in a string of expense claims leaks which MPs said were made with Commons approval. The tourism minister said her claims for security patrols met Commons rules.
The wife of author Ken Follett and one of Parliament's richest MPs, Mrs Follett said her claims for security had been made within the rules. Also named by the paper is immigration minister Phil Woolas who said he was seeking legal advice, denying claims for nappies and women's clothing.
Police have been asked to probe how the details were leaked to the paper. Downing Street earlier said there was "nothing wrong" with Gordon Brown's payments to his brother for a cleaner.
'Disgusting reporting' The expenses claims reported in Saturday's Telegraph come a day after the paper published details of 13 Cabinet minsters' claims.
In a further disclosure, the Telegraph says immigration minister Phil Woolas claimed for nappies and women's clothing on his expenses, an allegation he vehemently denies. It plans to publish further revelations about MPs from other parties over the next few days.
He says they were listed on a receipt for food which he submitted, but he did not receive any money for them. The Commons authorities have complained to the Metropolitan Police, who confirmed they were considering a request for an investigation into the leak to the paper.
The purchases I made were no more than was necessary to live in a habitable residence Care services minister Phil Hope 'Disgusting' reporting
Mr Woolas called the Telegraph's reporting "absolutely disgusting" and said they were handling stolen property and making false allegations against ministers. Mrs Follett's total bill for security patrols between 2004 and 2008 - which started after she was mugged - was £25,411.64, the paper said.
The wife of author Ken Follett and one of Parliament's richest MPs, she said: "I claimed it, it's within the rules and I have no comment to make."
Mr Woolas called the Telegraph's reporting "absolutely disgusting" and said the paper was handling stolen property and making false allegations against ministers.
He said he believed the newspaper's claims might be "actionable" and he was seeking legal advice.He said he believed the newspaper's claims might be "actionable" and he was seeking legal advice.
The paper reported that care services minister Phil Hope had spent more than £37,000 over about four years on refurbishing and furnishing a two-bedroom south London flat. The purchases I made were no more than was necessary to live in a habitable residence Care services minister Phil Hope
The minister claims nappies and women's clothing were listed on a receipt for food which he submitted, but he did not receive any money for them.
Saturday's paper reported that care services minister Phil Hope had spent more than £37,000 over about four years on refurbishing and furnishing a two-bedroom south London flat.
Mr Hope said: "I claimed the cost of running and furnishing a flat in London, in full accordance with the rules that apply to members of Parliament.Mr Hope said: "I claimed the cost of running and furnishing a flat in London, in full accordance with the rules that apply to members of Parliament.
"The purchases I made were no more than was necessary to live in a habitable residence and replacements only occurred when furniture and fittings were worn out. These items were then disposed of."The purchases I made were no more than was necessary to live in a habitable residence and replacements only occurred when furniture and fittings were worn out. These items were then disposed of.
"I have not personally benefited from this process, nor did I make purchases that were inappropriate for the property concerned.""I have not personally benefited from this process, nor did I make purchases that were inappropriate for the property concerned."
Claims cleared Information battle
Mrs Follett's total bill for security patrols between 2004 and 2008 was £25,411.64, the paper said.
She told the BBC: "I claimed it, it's within the rules and I have no comment to make".
She also claimed £528.75 for a Chinese needlepoint rug to be repaired and cleaned, but was only paid back £300 after it was deemed excessive, the Telegraph said.
She told the newspaper: "As all of [my claims], bar one, have been accepted and cleared by the House of Commons Fees Office under the rules laid out in the Green Book, I have no further comment to make on them.
It's not a matter of her wealth - it's a matter of how can you possibly claim this amount of money for protection when we have a police service Martin Bell, former independent MP
"The item not accepted by the Fees Office was claimed in error and is, to the best of my knowledge, one of the only two occasions in the last 12 years when my expenses claims have been queried by them."
Full details of all MPs' expenses dating back four years, running to 2.4 million receipts, were due to be published in the middle of July after the Commons authorities lost a Freedom of Information battle.Full details of all MPs' expenses dating back four years, running to 2.4 million receipts, were due to be published in the middle of July after the Commons authorities lost a Freedom of Information battle.
But instead, the Telegraph is revealing the information early and over several days.But instead, the Telegraph is revealing the information early and over several days.
BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said: "Clearly at the moment it is very much the government that is suffering because of this, because it is cabinet ministers who are having the spotlight shone on their expenses and junior ministers, as we discovered today.BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said: "Clearly at the moment it is very much the government that is suffering because of this, because it is cabinet ministers who are having the spotlight shone on their expenses and junior ministers, as we discovered today.
"But MPs from other parties are going to be drawn into this, backbenchers too. There is a feeling that that is where, perhaps, some of the real, shocking horror stories of claims may then come to light, on the back benches.""But MPs from other parties are going to be drawn into this, backbenchers too. There is a feeling that that is where, perhaps, some of the real, shocking horror stories of claims may then come to light, on the back benches."
Resignations predicted Mrs Follett claimed £528.75 for a Chinese needlepoint rug to be repaired and cleaned, but was only paid back £300 after it was deemed excessive, the Telegraph said.
How can you possibly claim this amount of money for protection when we have a police service Martin Bell, former independent MP
She told the newspaper: "As all of [my claims], bar one, have been accepted and cleared by the House of Commons Fees Office under the rules laid out in the Green Book, I have no further comment to make on them.
"The item not accepted by the Fees Office was claimed in error and is, to the best of my knowledge, one of the only two occasions in the last 12 years when my expenses claims have been queried by them."
The former independent MP, Martin Bell, said he believed a few MPs would now have to resign, and others would have to accept major changes to their expenses.The former independent MP, Martin Bell, said he believed a few MPs would now have to resign, and others would have to accept major changes to their expenses.
"I think the more we know about this, the worse it gets. I think Barbara Follet is in an almost impossible situation now."I think the more we know about this, the worse it gets. I think Barbara Follet is in an almost impossible situation now.
"It's not a matter of her wealth, it's a matter of how can you possibly claim this amount of money for protection when we have a police service." "It's not a matter of her wealth, it's a matter of how can you possibly claim this amount of money for protection when we have a police service?"
Other expense claims revealed earlier include a £6,500 claim by Gordon Brown to pay his brother for a cleaner. Downing Street has said there was "nothing wrong" with the claim. Other expense claims revealed earlier include a £6,500 claim by Gordon Brown to pay his brother for a cleaner and Lord Mandelson, who claimed £2,850 for his home, before quitting as an MP and selling it for a large profit, said the claims were for essential repairs.
And Lord Mandelson, who claimed £2,850 for his home, before quitting as an MP and selling it for a large profit, said the claims were for essential repairs.