Parliamentary Allowances
Second Home Expenses (ACA)
The scandal of MP's expenses has damaged the reputation of Parliament. There is now a new strict system in place and the wrong-doers will be leaving us. It has been a difficult time and I understand the anger felt about these revelations. In the end our democracy will be strengthened by these dramatic events.
Published here are my second home claims and receipts. These relate to
the years 2004/05, 05/06, 06/07, 07/08, 08/09 and the first quarter of
09/10. The annual amounts that I have claimed have long since been published
both nationally and locally but can be seen again at the following link
here, 
but I have decided to place all of the detail in the format provided by
the fees office this week on my website for constituents to view. I will
continue to publish the relevant papers when I get them.
These claims relate to my constituency home. I have always claimed within the letter and spirit of the rules. I have never bought furniture on expenses and never flipped my second home. I have not made a capital gain. Apart from the running costs (mortgage costs, utilities etc) and a portion of the permitted food allowance, the only other claim is for 2 rugs from Larry Speare and a pair of curtains which were half price. Gary - 21st May 2009 and updated 10th December 2009
Parliament reassembled after a long recess (in my opinion too long) on 12th October 2009 and unfortunately we all stepped straight back into the storm of MP's expenses. Sir Thomas Legg has now been through all of our second home claims for the last 5 years with a fine tooth comb and I gather that most of us have been asked to either provide more information or make repayments. I have been asked to repay £2600, mainly from mortgage claims in 2004. This was something of a surprise, and we are checking the figures, but because I am keen to draw a line over this horrendous experience for us and for you, I have already agreed to pay it back. I hope that once Sir Christopher Kelly has unveiled the new system for MP's expenses we can all get on with focusing on the challenges facing this country in the run up to the general election next May. Message from Gary - October 2009
Footnote: The amount that Gary has to pay back has now risen to a total of £3000, again relating to the accuracy of past mortgage claims. Unlike 80 of his colleagues Gary has decided not to appeal, to draw a line under this sorry saga.
The following links are to my expenses for the years indicated: Download Adobe Reader here
- ACA 2004/2005 (pdf)
- ACA 2005/2006 (pdf)
- ACA 2006/2007 (pdf)
- ACA 2007/2008 (pdf)
- ACA 2008/2009 (pdf)
- ACA 2009 April - June (pdf)
Office Cost Expenses (IEP)
The PDF files below are large and will take time to open or download
Communications Expenses (CA)
