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MPs reveal travel expense claims MPs reveal travel expense claims
(30 minutes 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.
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.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.
WHAT MPS CAN CLAIM FOR Travel to and from workTravel on parliamentary businessSome European travelSome select committee travelWHAT MPS CAN CLAIM FOR Travel to and from workTravel on parliamentary businessSome European travelSome select committee travel
"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.
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.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.
OpennessOpenness
The figures were revealed last October, but until now no breakdown had been provided of the £4.5m spent on travel.The figures were revealed last October, but until now no breakdown had been provided of the £4.5m spent on travel.
MPs can claim expenses for daily journeys to and from work, such as tube tickets and taxi fares.MPs can claim expenses for daily journeys to and from work, such as tube tickets and taxi fares.
MILEAGE RATES Car - 40p up to 10,000 miles and 25p after thatMotorbike - 24pBicycle - 20pMILEAGE RATES Car - 40p up to 10,000 miles and 25p after thatMotorbike - 24pBicycle - 20p
Blair Gibbs, of campaign group The Taxpayers' Alliance , told the BBC that now the figures were public, MPs should spend less on transport.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.
"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."
PriusPrius
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.
As the rate of payment is 40p per mile, he would have driven 8,210 miles.As the rate of payment is 40p per mile, he would have driven 8,210 miles.
Mr Huhne told the BBC he owned a more environmentally friendly Toyota Prius, and often travelled by rail but did not claim it back.Mr Huhne told the BBC he owned a more environmentally friendly Toyota Prius, and often travelled by rail but did not claim it back.
MAIN PARTY LEADERS' CLAIMS Tony Blair - £202David Cameron - £1,823Sir Menzies Campbell - £13,449 CYCLING MILEAGE CLAIMANTS Jeremy CorbynMary CreaghJames ArbuthnotSir John ButterfillTom BrakeAndrew GeorgeBernard JenkinEd Vaizey
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 lostAppeals 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.Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander, MP for Paisley & West Renfrewshire, claimed £4,922 for rail travel and £4,592 on flights.
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 NO CLAIMS Adam AfriyieMargaret BeckettMargaret HodgeGlenda JacksonAnn KeenSusan KramerNick RaynsfordAndrew Pelling
Very few MPs made claims for bicycle use, with Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) and Mary Creagh (Wakefield) requesting most - £230 each.Very few MPs made claims for bicycle use, with Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) and Mary Creagh (Wakefield) requesting most - £230 each.
As the payment rate is 20p per mile, they would have cycled 1,150 miles during the year.As the payment rate is 20p per mile, they would have cycled 1,150 miles during the year.
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.