Daily Telegraph: Revealed: what MPs can claim on expenses
By Rosa Prince Political Correspondent
A SECRET list giving details of the thousands of £ of taxpayers' money that MPs can claim to furnish their homes was published by House of Commons authorities yesterday.
The "John Lewis list'' was released under the Freedom of Information Act after weeks of pressure.
The Commons authorities also lost a battle to keep secret details of MPs' individual expenses claims.
An FOI tribunal ruled on a request relating to only a handful of senior politicians, including Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, but as a result full details of allowances claimed by all past and present MPs dating back to 2004 will now be made public. It is believed they could be published in December.
The list of allowances is used by finance officials to pass or reject MPs' expenses claims for decorating their second homes and buying household items.
Until recently it was kept secret even from MPs who were not given formal guidance on spending on individual items. It shows that MPs are allowed to spend £ 10,000 for a kitchen and £ 6,000 on a new bathroom.
Air conditioning units, beds, food mixers and rugs are allowed, while carpets and wood flooring can be bought at £ 35 per square metre.
The information, based on prices at John Lewis department stores, also includes dates for the introduction of rules barring items including shavers, toothbrushes, bathrobes and toiletries - suggesting that at least one MP attempted to submit such claims.
Earlier this year Andrew Walker, the Commons director of resources, refused to make the list public, saying it would encourage MPs to take advantage of the system by putting in claims at the upper limit.
Officially known as the "additional costs claims guide'', the "John Lewis list'' includes the advice that antique, luxury or premium grade furnishings and fittings are not allowed. It adds: "Members should avoid purchases which could be seen as extravagant or luxurious.'' The Commons
authorities said John Lewis was used because it "came out top of all retail shops'' in the February 2007 edition of Which?, on cost, customer service and variety.
David Winnick, a Labour MP, said: "It does look rather expensive for a number of items and obviously the public will say 'Why should John Lewis be the benchmark?' The public need to be absolutely reassured that MPs are not exploiting the situation.''
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "John Lewis is a fine store but it is hardly the cheapest place to purchase household goods.
"How many ordinary taxpayers spend £ 1,500 on a TV and stereo when there are cheaper deals elsewhere?''
If the Commons had not released the information by Monday, it would have been in breach of the Freedom of Information Act.
Giving evidence earlier this year at an information tribunal which ruled on the release of the "John Lewis list'', Mr Walker said: "My concern would be that if we say what the maximum price we will allow for such an item is, it will become the going rate.''
MPs can claim for items on the list under the £ 22,000-a-year additional costs allowance for maintaining a
second home in London near Parliament in addition to their constituency residence.
The allowance is controversial as some MPs run a second home even though their constituencies are relatively close to Westminster.
The husband and wife MPs Sir Nicholas and Lady Winterton, both Conservative backbenchers, have been criticised by their leader David Cameron for claiming rent on a house which has no mortgage after transferring the property into a family trust.
Privately, many MPs admit they use Parliament's generous system of perks and allowances to supplement an income which they regard as below the going rate for senior professionals.
The furore over MPs' expenses erupted after the Conservative MP Derek Conway was censured for paying tens of thousands of pounds to his sons despite no evidence of any work being done.
The Speaker, Michael Martin. whose use of personal allowances has been questioned, has been accused of blocking change.
"John Lewis list''
This is the "John Lewis list'' of claims MPs can make
New kitchen £ 10,000
New bathroom £ 6,335
Suite of furniture £ 2,000
Bed £ 1,000
Sideboard £ 795
Television set £ 750
Hi-fi/stereo £ 750
Wardrobe £ 700
Gas cooker £ 650
Dining table £ 600
Fridge/freezer combi £ 550
Bookcase/cabinet £ 500
Drawer chest (5) £ 500
Dressing table £ 500
Washer dryer £ 500
Dishwasher £ 375
Washing machine £ 350
Rugs £ 300
Free-standing mirror £ 300
Air conditioning £ 299.99
Recordable DVD £ 270
Tumble dryer £ 250
Coffee table £ 250
Food mixer £ 200
Book case/shelf £ 200
Nest of tables £ 200
Lamp table £ 200
Dining armchairs £ 150 each
Workstation £ 150
Coffee maker/machine £ 100
Bedside cabinet £ 100
Dining chairs £ 90 each
Shredder £ 50
Carpets (sq m) £ 35
Underlay (sq m) £ 6.99
Carpet fitting (sq m) £ 6.50
This gets better and better, doesn't it!
I would have no major gripes to allow accommodation expenses for MPs travelling into London from non-commuting distances. My own MP, Chris Grayling, from Epsom, has a second home in Westminster. Can anyone explain why he should be entitled to a second home on taxpayers money when thousands of normal people commute in to London, including from further afield than even he?
It might not be too bad if the taxpayer were entitled to the profits from the proceeds of the sale of the property but even that is denied to us.
Name me one single other occupation - private or public - where this kind of behaviour is either tolerated or even encouraged. None.
Posted by: Rob Sharma | Friday, March 14, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Just to add.
Chris Grayling not only claims for a second home in London but also in fact owns two terraced properties from which he earns rental income.
Furthermore, he also claimed £6,704 for rail travel in 06/07.
So we not only pay for his unnecessary accommodation in London, which he claims is essential, but we also pay for him to commute there and back from Epsom. Lovely.
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/chris_grayling/epsom_and_ewell#register
Posted by: Rob Sharma | Friday, March 14, 2008 at 11:13 AM