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/uk_politics/6359591.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
MPs reveal travel expense claims | MPs reveal travel expense claims |
(about 1 hour 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. | |
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. |
Distance | |
Mr Joyce said the amount he claimed was down to travelling between London and his constituency, and promised to 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. |
MAIN PARTY LEADERS' CLAIMS Tony Blair - £202David Cameron - £1,823Sir Menzies Campbell - £13,449 | |
Total expenses claims for last year - including travel, the cost of running constituency offices and constituency homes - were £86.6m, up £6m from the previous year. | |
The figures were revealed last October, but until now no breakdown had been provided of the £4.5m spent on travel. | |
Blair Gibbs, of campaign group The Taxpayers' Alliance , told the BBC that now the figures were public, MPs should spend less on transport. | |
"This is a good day for taxpayers and long overdue we think," he said. | "This is a good day for taxpayers and long overdue we think," he said. |
CABINET MEMBERS' CLAIMS Chancellor Gordon Brown - £7,609Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott - £4,612Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett - £0Home Secretary John Reid - £5,582Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt - £2,390Education Secretary Alan Johnson - £9,567 | |
"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 travelled 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. |
Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander, MP for Paisley & West Renfrewshire, claimed £4,922 for rail travel and £4,592 on flights. | |
Very few MPs made claims for bicycle use, with Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) and Mary Creagh (Wakefield) requesting most - £230 each. | |
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. |