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MPs reveal travel expense claims | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
MPs' travel expenses have been laid bare, following a two-year battle with the House of Commons authorities. | MPs' travel expenses have been laid bare, following a two-year battle with the House of Commons authorities. |
They published a detailed breakdown of figures after a campaign by Lib Dem MP Norman Baker, who said the public ought to know how money was being spent. | They published a detailed breakdown of figures after a campaign by Lib Dem MP Norman Baker, who said the public ought to know how money was being spent. |
Scottish MPs claimed the most, Labour MP for Falkirk Eric Joyce topped the list with £44,985 and Orkney's Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael claimed £38,750 | Scottish MPs claimed the most, Labour MP for Falkirk Eric Joyce topped the list with £44,985 and Orkney's Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael claimed £38,750 |
Overall MPs spent about £2m on driving, £1.5m on trains and £1m on flights. | Overall MPs spent about £2m on driving, £1.5m on trains and £1m on flights. |
Asked about his expenses and allowances last year, Mr Joyce said he would try to reduce his claims - which amounted to a total of £174,811. | Asked about his expenses and allowances last year, Mr Joyce said he would try to reduce his claims - which amounted to a total of £174,811. |
Expenses for Scottish MPs are different to other MPs, because of the geography and distance Eric Joyce MP | Expenses for Scottish MPs are different to other MPs, because of the geography and distance Eric Joyce MP |
He put the amount down to travelling between London and his constituency, and said he would review the number of meetings he travelled north to attend. | He put the amount down to travelling between London and his constituency, and said he would review the number of meetings he travelled north to attend. |
"Expenses for Scottish MPs are different to other MPs, because of the geography and distance," he said. | "Expenses for Scottish MPs are different to other MPs, because of the geography and distance," he said. |
Car mileage claim | Car mileage claim |
MPs' expenses and allowances claims rose nearly £6m in 2005-6, to £86.8m. | |
This is a good day for taxpayers Blair Gibbs,The Taxpayers' Alliance | This is a good day for taxpayers Blair Gibbs,The Taxpayers' Alliance |
The latest figures, which give a detailed breakdown of rail, air, car mileage and taxi hire, show £4.5m was spent on travel overall. | The latest figures, which give a detailed breakdown of rail, air, car mileage and taxi hire, show £4.5m was spent on travel overall. |
Blair Gibbs, of campaign group The Taxpayers' Alliance , told the BBC that now the figures were public, MPs should spend less on travel. | |
"This is a good day for taxpayers and long overdue we think," he said. | |
"In principle it's good because it's our money they're spending, but also in practice better openness will hopefully... lead to smaller claims." | "In principle it's good because it's our money they're spending, but also in practice better openness will hopefully... lead to smaller claims." |
Lib Dem environment spokesman Chris Huhne spent £3,284 on car mileage - but only £176 on train tickets, even though his Hampshire constituency is commutable by rail. | Lib Dem environment spokesman Chris Huhne spent £3,284 on car mileage - but only £176 on train tickets, even though his Hampshire constituency is commutable by rail. |
He told the BBC he owned a more environmentally friendly Toyota Prius, and often traveled by rail but did not claim it back. | |
It's important that MPs who are professing an interest in the environment can be measured by their own performance Norman Baker MP | It's important that MPs who are professing an interest in the environment can be measured by their own performance Norman Baker MP |
Labour MP Janet Anderson, who represents the Lancashire constituency of Rossendale and Darwen, made the biggest claim for car mileage at £16,612 - the equivalent of 60,448 miles in one year. | Labour MP Janet Anderson, who represents the Lancashire constituency of Rossendale and Darwen, made the biggest claim for car mileage at £16,612 - the equivalent of 60,448 miles in one year. |
Meanwhile Tory MP Mike Penning claimed £7,978 in car mileage, although his Hemel Hempstead constituency is less than 30 miles from London. | Meanwhile Tory MP Mike Penning claimed £7,978 in car mileage, although his Hemel Hempstead constituency is less than 30 miles from London. |
South Norfolk's Tory MP Richard Bacon claimed the biggest car hire and taxi bill at £5,685, but claimed no mileage. | South Norfolk's Tory MP Richard Bacon claimed the biggest car hire and taxi bill at £5,685, but claimed no mileage. |
Appeals lost | Appeals lost |
Labour's Diane Abbott, who represents the London constituency of Hackney North & Stoke Newington, claimed £2,235 in car hire and taxi fees. | Labour's Diane Abbott, who represents the London constituency of Hackney North & Stoke Newington, claimed £2,235 in car hire and taxi fees. |
The Commons authorities were forced to publish a detailed breakdown of the figures, rather than a combined figure, after Mr Baker's campaign. | The Commons authorities were forced to publish a detailed breakdown of the figures, rather than a combined figure, after Mr Baker's campaign. |
He told the BBC: "It's important that MPs who are professing an interest in the environment can be measured by their own performance. | He told the BBC: "It's important that MPs who are professing an interest in the environment can be measured by their own performance. |
"If MPs for example are saying that climate change is very important, yet are continually taking the plane, that's a matter their constituents ought to know about." | "If MPs for example are saying that climate change is very important, yet are continually taking the plane, that's a matter their constituents ought to know about." |
The Commons, which lost two appeals, had argued that revealing further details would breach data protection principles. | The Commons, which lost two appeals, had argued that revealing further details would breach data protection principles. |