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/8052493.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sinn Fein reveals MP allowances | Sinn Fein reveals MP allowances |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Sinn Fein has published the amount of money its MPs claim for staff, travel, administration and accommodation. | Sinn Fein has published the amount of money its MPs claim for staff, travel, administration and accommodation. |
| The party said it did not claim its £50,000 a year communications allowance, nor any overnight or food allowances. | The party said it did not claim its £50,000 a year communications allowance, nor any overnight or food allowances. |
| Staff subsidies, worth up to £100,205 a year per MP, are claimed by the party. An accommodation allowance worth a total £108,000 a year is also claimed. | Staff subsidies, worth up to £100,205 a year per MP, are claimed by the party. An accommodation allowance worth a total £108,000 a year is also claimed. |
| The party also claimed for two TVs, a bed settee and £485 for blinds. | The party also claimed for two TVs, a bed settee and £485 for blinds. |
| A Sinn Fein statement said the items were claimed for in May 2004 when the party took up rental leases for two properties. | A Sinn Fein statement said the items were claimed for in May 2004 when the party took up rental leases for two properties. |
| A townhouse is shared by Conor Murphy, Martin McGuinness and Michelle Gildernew, and an apartment is used by Pat Doherty and Gerry Adams. | A townhouse is shared by Conor Murphy, Martin McGuinness and Michelle Gildernew, and an apartment is used by Pat Doherty and Gerry Adams. |
| The statement said each MP has claimed £21,600 each year for the properties. | The statement said each MP has claimed £21,600 each year for the properties. |
| "This covers the rent and services," said the statement. | "This covers the rent and services," said the statement. |
| "We do not draw down the full allowance which is currently £24,222 per annum. We do not own these properties and the rental payment is an all inclusive service and rental contract. | "We do not draw down the full allowance which is currently £24,222 per annum. We do not own these properties and the rental payment is an all inclusive service and rental contract. |
| "It covers rent, gas, electricity, water, council taxes, waste, furnishings, cleaning, laundry and insurance. These leases have been approved by Westminster." | "It covers rent, gas, electricity, water, council taxes, waste, furnishings, cleaning, laundry and insurance. These leases have been approved by Westminster." |
| The MPs also claim a total of £112,000 a year for the running of constituency offices, as well as several thousands of pounds in travel allowances. | The MPs also claim a total of £112,000 a year for the running of constituency offices, as well as several thousands of pounds in travel allowances. |
| "Sinn Fein MPs who became (Assembly) ministers stopped making claims for constituency travel allowances when ministerial cars were provided in 2007," said the statement. | "Sinn Fein MPs who became (Assembly) ministers stopped making claims for constituency travel allowances when ministerial cars were provided in 2007," said the statement. |
| It added that Sinn Fein MPs are "denied" salaries and policy development grants because of its abstentionist policy at Westminster. | It added that Sinn Fein MPs are "denied" salaries and policy development grants because of its abstentionist policy at Westminster. |
| "This means that our party has been denied £1,443,840 over the last five years." | "This means that our party has been denied £1,443,840 over the last five years." |
| It added that it does not get £100,000 a year in policy development grants. | It added that it does not get £100,000 a year in policy development grants. |
| The party said its financial statement for 2008 would be published in the summer. | The party said its financial statement for 2008 would be published in the summer. |
| Meanwhile, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson has published some of his claims, in line with new party guidelines. | |
| The claims range from a camera memory card at £14.99 to House of Commons headed paper at £152.95. |