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| AMs' expenses claims are online | AMs' expenses claims are online |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| The latest details of Welsh assembly members' expenses claims have been published online. | The latest details of Welsh assembly members' expenses claims have been published online. |
| Last year AMs claimed more than £230,000 for mortgages and rent, and nearly £50,000 for meals. | |
| They also show Labour's Sandy Mewies spent £1,599 on TV equipment. She said people had a right to the information. | |
| Plaid Cymru AMs Chris Franks and Leanne Wood claimed £400 each towards the cost of the party's stand at the National Eisteddfod in Cardiff. | |
| The public are able to access allowances claimed by individual AMs after the launch of a new online log. | The public are able to access allowances claimed by individual AMs after the launch of a new online log. |
| Initially, only claims for the financial year 2008/9 are available, but from October the log will be updated month by month. | Initially, only claims for the financial year 2008/9 are available, but from October the log will be updated month by month. |
| Ms Mewies, the AM for Delyn, said: "Like my assembly Labour colleagues I am fully committed to transparency in public life and support the publication of Assembly Member allowance claims in an online format. The public has a right to this information." | |
| AMs claimed almost £6,500 for furniture and electrical goods for their second homes and £4,500 for air travel. | AMs claimed almost £6,500 for furniture and electrical goods for their second homes and £4,500 for air travel. |
| Seven of the 60 AMs claimed a combined £2,582.98 for soft furnishings. | Seven of the 60 AMs claimed a combined £2,582.98 for soft furnishings. |
| Plaid Cymru's Rhodri Glyn Thomas spent £830 on curtains and blinds for his second home, and Labour's Alun Davies more than £550 on soft furnishings. | Plaid Cymru's Rhodri Glyn Thomas spent £830 on curtains and blinds for his second home, and Labour's Alun Davies more than £550 on soft furnishings. |
| Mr Davies's purchases included cushions, quilt covers, lampshades and a bread bin. | Mr Davies's purchases included cushions, quilt covers, lampshades and a bread bin. |
| The publication of the claims comes after a major controversy over MPs' expenses and a row over claims by AMs including iPods. | The publication of the claims comes after a major controversy over MPs' expenses and a row over claims by AMs including iPods. |
| Presiding officer Lord Elis-Thomas said that while individual receipts would not be available online, the public could have access to them. | Presiding officer Lord Elis-Thomas said that while individual receipts would not be available online, the public could have access to them. |
| "We are not going to scan receipts but receipts are available if people want to see them". | "We are not going to scan receipts but receipts are available if people want to see them". |
| We aim to be even more transparent, even more open and even more candid with the people of Wales than ever before Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Welsh assembly presiding officer Click here for AMs' expenses log | We aim to be even more transparent, even more open and even more candid with the people of Wales than ever before Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Welsh assembly presiding officer Click here for AMs' expenses log |
| He added: "We've got to get it right for the people of Wales because that's what we are here for. We are not here to make money for ourselves. We've got to give people confidence and show that we are worthy of their trust at all times." | He added: "We've got to get it right for the people of Wales because that's what we are here for. We are not here to make money for ourselves. We've got to give people confidence and show that we are worthy of their trust at all times." |
| The new website has used software bought from the Scottish Parliament. | The new website has used software bought from the Scottish Parliament. |
| It follows the release last year of AMs' allowances claimed for the financial years 2006/7 and 2007/08. | It follows the release last year of AMs' allowances claimed for the financial years 2006/7 and 2007/08. |
| An investigation into the whole system of financial support for AMs is also under way, conducted by an independent panel of experts headed by Sir Roger Jones. | An investigation into the whole system of financial support for AMs is also under way, conducted by an independent panel of experts headed by Sir Roger Jones. |
| The panel are due to report next week. | The panel are due to report next week. |
| Lord Elis-Thomas said it was important to gain the full confidence of the public. | Lord Elis-Thomas said it was important to gain the full confidence of the public. |
| "We aim to be even more transparent, even more open and even more candid with the people of Wales than ever before," he said. | "We aim to be even more transparent, even more open and even more candid with the people of Wales than ever before," he said. |
| Last year it emerged that leader of the Welsh Conservatives Nick Bourne and his Tory colleague Alun Cairns, a South West Wales AM, claimed a total of £398 in office costs for an iPod each. | Last year it emerged that leader of the Welsh Conservatives Nick Bourne and his Tory colleague Alun Cairns, a South West Wales AM, claimed a total of £398 in office costs for an iPod each. |
| They later reimbursed the assembly and donated money to charity. | They later reimbursed the assembly and donated money to charity. |
| Mr Bourne, a Mid and West Wales AM, said although the claims were within the rules, both he and Mr Cairns apologised to the public. | Mr Bourne, a Mid and West Wales AM, said although the claims were within the rules, both he and Mr Cairns apologised to the public. |
| Second homes | Second homes |
| Currently, every AM's claim has to be signed off by the Fees Office of the Assembly Commission. | Currently, every AM's claim has to be signed off by the Fees Office of the Assembly Commission. |
| Members are entitled to allowances for second homes in Cardiff because they are away from their constituency homes during the week while attending the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. | Members are entitled to allowances for second homes in Cardiff because they are away from their constituency homes during the week while attending the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. |
| AMs can claim up to £15,000 to maintain a constituency office, up from £14,400 last year. | AMs can claim up to £15,000 to maintain a constituency office, up from £14,400 last year. |
| Those who live far from Cardiff Bay are entitled to £13,000 to cover a second home or overnight stays on official business - £4,100 if their main home is closer. The rates were £12,500 and £3,900 respectively last year. | Those who live far from Cardiff Bay are entitled to £13,000 to cover a second home or overnight stays on official business - £4,100 if their main home is closer. The rates were £12,500 and £3,900 respectively last year. |
| There is no limit on travel expenses, though AMs are expected to take the most economical route, a spokesman said. | There is no limit on travel expenses, though AMs are expected to take the most economical route, a spokesman said. |
| Last week MPs' expenses were published online but there was criticism after much of the detail was blacked-out. | Last week MPs' expenses were published online but there was criticism after much of the detail was blacked-out. |
| Of the 40 Welsh MPs, 14 from all four parties, have voluntarily repaid allowances with sums ranging from £1 to thousands. | Of the 40 Welsh MPs, 14 from all four parties, have voluntarily repaid allowances with sums ranging from £1 to thousands. |