Northern Ireland MPs’ expenses details published
More details about MPs’ expenses from from April 2008 to June 2009 have been published by the House of Commons.
The information focuses on claims for second homes in London and includes the details of a number of MPs from Northern Ireland.
Most of the claims by NI MPs are for expenses like utility bills, mortgage payments, and TV licences and are unlikely to prove controversial.
It is the second time in recent months that details have been made public.
Sinn Fein no longer rents properties in London, saying its five MPs will in future use hotels when in the city.
The latest claims show that the party claimed a total of £108,000 in rent last year.
The documents show that once again some DUP figures, including the party leader Peter Robinson and Ian Paisley, claimed the maximum food allowance of £400 a month.
The allowance has now been withdrawn, although the DUP had already said they would no longer be claiming it.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan had a claim rejected for a £14 mini-bar bill.
The claims have not been as heavily blacked out as the previous years’ receipts published earlier this year.
The move comes after widespread public anger at the amount of money MPs claimed on their expense accounts, in addition to their Westminster salary.
MPs from outside of central London were entitled to claim up to £24,006 in 2008/9 for the cost of having a second home – for things like mortgages interest payments and utility bills, but also for things like a second set of cutlery or televisions and furniture.
A second home was deemed necessary because MPs have to attend Parliament at Westminster but also live in, or have a base in, their constituency.
All MPs had to sign a declaration with every claim, saying: “I confirm that I incurred these costs wholly, exclusively and necessarily to enable me to stay overnight away from my only or main home for the purpose of performing my duties as a Member of Parliament.”
