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MPs' expenses made public online MPs' expenses made public online
(30 minutes later)
The expenses claims of every MP for the past four years have been published, but with some key details blacked out.The expenses claims of every MP for the past four years have been published, but with some key details blacked out.
Commons authorities have published the details after a long-running Freedom of Information battle.Commons authorities have published the details after a long-running Freedom of Information battle.
The addresses that claims relate to - and correspondence - have been removed on privacy and security grounds.The addresses that claims relate to - and correspondence - have been removed on privacy and security grounds.
This means it is not possible to see if MPs "flipped" second homes - a key part of the Daily Telegraph's revelations from its leaked version of the data.This means it is not possible to see if MPs "flipped" second homes - a key part of the Daily Telegraph's revelations from its leaked version of the data.
The newspaper's assistant editor Andrew Pierce told the BBC they would publish the entire list of claims submitted by the cabinet on Friday and every MP's expenses on Saturday - to allow people to draw their own conclusions about what had been "censored".The newspaper's assistant editor Andrew Pierce told the BBC they would publish the entire list of claims submitted by the cabinet on Friday and every MP's expenses on Saturday - to allow people to draw their own conclusions about what had been "censored".
I can see that avoiding embarrassment has been the key motivating factor of what's been deleted Heather BrookeFreedom of Information campaigner See your MP's expenses Minister quits over expenses
"I suspect it could be that more MPs will be considering their position and maybe their party leaders will be considering whether they are really fit to be an MP," he said."I suspect it could be that more MPs will be considering their position and maybe their party leaders will be considering whether they are really fit to be an MP," he said.
The uncensored details obtained by the Daily Telegraph have led to weeks of revelations and a slew of resignations from MPs.The uncensored details obtained by the Daily Telegraph have led to weeks of revelations and a slew of resignations from MPs.
I can see that avoiding embarrassment has been the key motivating factor of what's been deleted Heather BrookeFreedom of Information campaigner See your MP's expenses Minister quits over expenses
On Wednesday Treasury minister Kitty Ussher stepped down amid reports that she changed the designation of her constituency home to avoid capital gains tax.On Wednesday Treasury minister Kitty Ussher stepped down amid reports that she changed the designation of her constituency home to avoid capital gains tax.
Ms Ussher said she acted within the rules but wanted to protect the government from further embarrassment amid public anger about expenses.Ms Ussher said she acted within the rules but wanted to protect the government from further embarrassment amid public anger about expenses.
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said that if the full uncensored claims had not been leaked to the Telegraph, then MPs like Miss Ussher would still be in their jobs.The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said that if the full uncensored claims had not been leaked to the Telegraph, then MPs like Miss Ussher would still be in their jobs.
Among Daily Telegraph revelations that do not appear in the blacked out versions of MPs' receipts are:Among Daily Telegraph revelations that do not appear in the blacked out versions of MPs' receipts are:
  • Andrew MacKay - From the official receipts it would not have been possible to know the Tory MP claimed for a second home without having a main constituency home.
  • Margaret Moran - The Labour MP who claimed £22,000 for dry rot on her second home. The receipts do not show her second home was in Southampton -100 miles from her Luton constituency.
  • Sir Peter Viggers - Tory MP who tried to claim £1,645 for a "duck island", the official receipts show no evidence of the unsuccessful claim.
  • Hazel Blears - The former Labour minister claimed second home expenses for three different properties in a single year but the redacted receipts do not show this as addresses are blacked out.
  • Andrew MacKay - From the official receipts it would not have been possible to know the Tory MP claimed for a second home without having a main constituency home.
  • Margaret Moran - The Labour MP who claimed £22,000 for dry rot on her second home. The receipts do not show her second home was in Southampton -100 miles from her Luton constituency.
  • Sir Peter Viggers - Tory MP who tried to claim £1,645 for a "duck island", the official receipts show no evidence of the unsuccessful claim.
  • Hazel Blears - The former Labour minister claimed second home expenses for three different properties in a single year but the redacted receipts do not show this as addresses are blacked out.
Heather Brooke, one of the campaigners who brought the Freedom of Information case, told the BBC the official publication was "a bit of a disappointment" and was a "substandard version". Heather Brooke, one of the campaigners who brought the Freedom of Information case, told the BBC the official publication was a "substandard version".
She pointed out the High Court had ordered that second home addresses be published - MPs rejected this in a later Commons vote, arguing it would jeopardise their security.She pointed out the High Court had ordered that second home addresses be published - MPs rejected this in a later Commons vote, arguing it would jeopardise their security.
"It's the only way to police effectively whether there is a second home and whether the mortgage exists whether it's been paid off or not and they are still claiming. It's really the only way we can hold them to account on that second home allowance.""It's the only way to police effectively whether there is a second home and whether the mortgage exists whether it's been paid off or not and they are still claiming. It's really the only way we can hold them to account on that second home allowance."
She said the security argument had been "totally discredited" adding: "I can see that avoiding embarrassment has been the key motivating factor of what's been deleted."
'Seismic changes''Seismic changes'
She said the security argument had been "totally discredited" adding: "I can see that avoiding embarrassment has been the key motivating factor of what's been deleted."
And Maurice Frankel, of the Campaign for Freedom of Information, also said the official version was a "very poor substitute": "The mood of the House of Commons was that they did not want any of this information to be published and, failing that, as little as possible."
But cabinet minister Hilary Benn told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The argument for keeping bank details, phone numbers and addresses confidential I think is a fair one."But cabinet minister Hilary Benn told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The argument for keeping bank details, phone numbers and addresses confidential I think is a fair one."
But he added: "The fact is the system just isn't capable ... of withstanding the kind of public scrutiny it has had over the last month and a half.
"That's why we've seen seismic changes, that's why Parliament has already taken steps to alter the rules why Christopher Kelly's committee will look at what the new system will be."
He added the problems were the result of self regulation - now expenses would be audited independently.
More than a dozen MPs have said they plan to stand down since the furore over expenses began and many have had to repay money - more than £300,000 has been repaid.
Commons authorities had been ordered to release the informationCommons authorities had been ordered to release the information
A spokesman for the House of Commons said steps were being taken to prevent the Parliament website from crashing under the weight of an expected massive increase in visitors. But he said the system needed to change: "That's why we've seen seismic changes, that's why Parliament has already taken steps to alter the rules why Christopher Kelly's committee will look at what the new system will be."
Claims made by all 646 MPs under three different allowances since 2004 have been published alphabetically with thousands of receipts made available in a series of PDF files. He added the problems were the result of self regulation - now expenses would be audited independently.
The Telegraph's reports focussed largely on the additional costs allowance, designed to cover costs associated with second homes including rent, mortgage interest payments, furnishings and food up to a maximum of more than £23,000 a year. For the Conservatives, shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan said: "I think the black ink is justified where it is things like ex-directory phone numbers ... and personal details and bank accounts."
ExclusionsExclusions
The Telegraph reported that some MPs had claimed for items that, while within the rules, were questionable. He said changes had been made to ensure MPs could not "play around with the second home address in order to extract as much money as possible out of the system".
The paper also highlighted the practice of "flipping" - by which some MPs switched the designation of their homes and claimed allowances for several properties over the four year period. But he said "at the very least" addresses should be properly audited.
Last year, the Commons agreed to blank out certain information considered sensitive including MPs' travel patterns and all communications with the Fees Office. "Whether the exact address should be put up which would allow people to walk up your front drive I think is a grey area - but the verification of the house and the consistency of the house that is registered is important."
More than a dozen MPs have said they plan to stand down since the furore over expenses began and many have had to repay money - more than £300,000 has been repaid.
Claims made by all 646 MPs under three different allowances since 2004 have been published alphabetically on the Parliament website with thousands of receipts made available in a series of PDF files.
The Telegraph's reports focused largely on the additional costs allowance, designed to cover costs associated with second homes.
WITHIN THE RULES £24,000-a-year Additional Costs Allowance, which covers the running of MPs' second homes£22,193-a-year Incidental Expenses Provision, which pays for running an office£10,400-a-year Communications Allowance, which funds websites, newsletters, stationery and postageWITHIN THE RULES £24,000-a-year Additional Costs Allowance, which covers the running of MPs' second homes£22,193-a-year Incidental Expenses Provision, which pays for running an office£10,400-a-year Communications Allowance, which funds websites, newsletters, stationery and postage
MPs have been able to look at the edited material and suggest further exclusions, with any disputes adjudicated by the Members Allowances Committee. The paper highlighted the practice of "flipping" - by which some MPs switched the designation of their homes and claimed allowances for several properties over the four year period and other claims that were within the rules - but questionable.
Other information published on Thursday includes the incidental expenses provision for MPs, which pays for office costs, and the communications allowance. Last year, the Commons agreed to blank out certain information considered sensitive including addresses and all communications with the Fees Office. MPs have been able to suggest further exclusions.
All the receipts were being prepared for publication in July after Parliament was ordered to release them by the High Court but were brought forward in light of the Telegraph expose. Other information published on Thursday includes the incidental expenses provision for office costs and the communications allowance - Parliament had been ordered to publish them by the High Court.
Labour has referred MPs accused of making questionable claims to an internal disciplinary panel, which has barred five MPs from standing at the next election.Labour has referred MPs accused of making questionable claims to an internal disciplinary panel, which has barred five MPs from standing at the next election.
The Tories have asked all its MPs to submit their claims to an internal panel for scrutiny, with a handful of MPs either being forced to stand down or choosing to retire.The Tories have asked all its MPs to submit their claims to an internal panel for scrutiny, with a handful of MPs either being forced to stand down or choosing to retire.
The furore has led to interim changes to the second homes allowance while the Committee of Standards in Public Life is holding an inquiry into expenses and will recommend changes to allowances rules.The furore has led to interim changes to the second homes allowance while the Committee of Standards in Public Life is holding an inquiry into expenses and will recommend changes to allowances rules.
Gordon Brown has said oversight of MPs expenses must be handed over to an external regulator as part of a root and branch reform of Parliament.Gordon Brown has said oversight of MPs expenses must be handed over to an external regulator as part of a root and branch reform of Parliament.