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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Robinsons in £30,000 food claims | Robinsons in £30,000 food claims |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| MPs Peter and Iris Robinson claimed about £30,000 for food in parliamentary expenses over a four-year period, according to the Daily Telegraph. | MPs Peter and Iris Robinson claimed about £30,000 for food in parliamentary expenses over a four-year period, according to the Daily Telegraph. |
| Leaked expenses claims in the paper show the DUP couple claimed more than £2,000 per month in mortgage interest payments between 2004 and 2008. | Leaked expenses claims in the paper show the DUP couple claimed more than £2,000 per month in mortgage interest payments between 2004 and 2008. |
| These were claimed for an apartment owned by the couple in London. | These were claimed for an apartment owned by the couple in London. |
| Mr Robinson said the money was claimed legitimately but both he and his party believed the system needed reform. | Mr Robinson said the money was claimed legitimately but both he and his party believed the system needed reform. |
| MPs are entitled to claim up to £400 per month in food bills according to the Daily Telegraph. | MPs are entitled to claim up to £400 per month in food bills according to the Daily Telegraph. |
| The newspaper states that the couple each claimed the maximum in most months. | The newspaper states that the couple each claimed the maximum in most months. |
| Mr Robinson, NI's first minister, said that over the period his average weekly claim was around £70 which he said was not unreasonable for London. | Mr Robinson, NI's first minister, said that over the period his average weekly claim was around £70 which he said was not unreasonable for London. |
| It also reports that both Mr Robinson and his wife claimed around £1,200 for service charges on their London flat when they submitted a claim on March 31, 2007. | |
| Mr Robinson's claim was rejected by a Westminster official as Iris Robinson had already made the claim. Mr Robinson said this was an innocent mistake. | Mr Robinson's claim was rejected by a Westminster official as Iris Robinson had already made the claim. Mr Robinson said this was an innocent mistake. |
| On the same day each claimed around £5,000 for five months' mortgage interest payments. | On the same day each claimed around £5,000 for five months' mortgage interest payments. |
| This was also rejected and the reason stated was that no mortgage interest statements had been submitted to back up the claim. | This was also rejected and the reason stated was that no mortgage interest statements had been submitted to back up the claim. |
| It is not clear from documents whether the money was ever paid or whether the statements were submitted. | It is not clear from documents whether the money was ever paid or whether the statements were submitted. |
| Mr Robinson said: "The claims were submitted consistent with House of Commons rules and after Fees Office advice. | Mr Robinson said: "The claims were submitted consistent with House of Commons rules and after Fees Office advice. |
| "Many people hold the view that the rules for the payment of expenses should be changed. | "Many people hold the view that the rules for the payment of expenses should be changed. |
| "My party colleagues and I want reform and indeed have voted for change. Such steps are necessary in order to gain public confidence." | "My party colleagues and I want reform and indeed have voted for change. Such steps are necessary in order to gain public confidence." |
| He said the Daily Telegraph had "bunched the claims of my wife and I together" and given a total over four years in order to arrive at a high figure for the food expenses. |