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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| MPs named over written off expenses | MPs named over written off expenses |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Commons expenses watchdog has named 26 current and former MPs who had debts of up to £500 written off after failing to pay them. | The Commons expenses watchdog has named 26 current and former MPs who had debts of up to £500 written off after failing to pay them. |
| The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority's list includes ministers Tobias Ellwood and Edward Timpson. | The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority's list includes ministers Tobias Ellwood and Edward Timpson. |
| A spokesman for Mr Timpson said he was "sending £127.70 to Ipsa today". Mr Ellwood's office said they were investigating the claim. | |
| David Cameron expects ministers to clear any debts, No 10 said. | |
| The total amount written off by the expenses watchdog over the 12-month period was £2,105.43. | |
| Meanwhile Ipsa said the overall bill for MPs' expenses and costs rose to almost £106m in 2014-15. | Meanwhile Ipsa said the overall bill for MPs' expenses and costs rose to almost £106m in 2014-15. |
| This was an increase of £1.7m on the previous financial year. | This was an increase of £1.7m on the previous financial year. |
| It includes money claimed for staffing and office costs, travel and accommodation - but not MPs' salaries. | It includes money claimed for staffing and office costs, travel and accommodation - but not MPs' salaries. |
| Not cost-effective | Not cost-effective |
| The amounts written off ranged from £7.50 to £309. The reasons they were not paid by Ipsa included because they were outside the allowances scheme or that they were duplicate claims. | |
| Much of the spending was on official credit cards that are automatically paid off by Ipsa before checks on whether they are allowable. | Much of the spending was on official credit cards that are automatically paid off by Ipsa before checks on whether they are allowable. |
| Ipsa said the amounts had been written off because it was not cost-effective to continue to pursue them. | Ipsa said the amounts had been written off because it was not cost-effective to continue to pursue them. |
| The office of Tobias Ellwood, Conservative MP for Bournemouth East and Foreign Office Minister, said they were investigating the allegations he wrongly claimed £26.50 for parking, train fares, food and drink. | The office of Tobias Ellwood, Conservative MP for Bournemouth East and Foreign Office Minister, said they were investigating the allegations he wrongly claimed £26.50 for parking, train fares, food and drink. |
| The office of Chris Skidmore, Conservative MP for Kingswood, said Ipsa's allegations he wrongly claimed £125 for a London hotel were an "error on the travel offices part". | The office of Chris Skidmore, Conservative MP for Kingswood, said Ipsa's allegations he wrongly claimed £125 for a London hotel were an "error on the travel offices part". |
| Edward Timpson, Minister for Children and Families and Conservative MP for Crewe and Nantwich, is repaying £127.70 wrongly claimed for travel expenses. | |
| Daniel Poulter, Conservative MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, said he was unaware £229.62 was outstanding in his name or that it had been written off. | |
| He said it concerned an invoice from BT that had not been received by Ipsa, so a second copy was now being sent to the watchdog to resolve the issue. | |
| Travel costs | Travel costs |
| Ipsa is also publishing information on whom MPs employ, including any family members, and MPs' property and office landlords. | Ipsa is also publishing information on whom MPs employ, including any family members, and MPs' property and office landlords. |
| Of the total amount spent by MPs during 2014-15, £82.7m went on staffing - which was up £2.2m compared with the previous year. Travel and subsistence costs rose slightly, too - from almost £4.8m to £4.9m. | Of the total amount spent by MPs during 2014-15, £82.7m went on staffing - which was up £2.2m compared with the previous year. Travel and subsistence costs rose slightly, too - from almost £4.8m to £4.9m. |
| Office costs stood at £10.7m, which was lower than the £11.2m spent in 2013-14. Meanwhile, spending on accommodation fell from almost £7m to £6.7m. | Office costs stood at £10.7m, which was lower than the £11.2m spent in 2013-14. Meanwhile, spending on accommodation fell from almost £7m to £6.7m. |
| Ipsa chief executive Marical Boo said: "Our regular publications include every single penny claimed by MPs, so that taxpayers and voters can see for themselves how their money is spent and gain assurance that Ipsa is scrutinising MPs' expenditure on their behalf." | Ipsa chief executive Marical Boo said: "Our regular publications include every single penny claimed by MPs, so that taxpayers and voters can see for themselves how their money is spent and gain assurance that Ipsa is scrutinising MPs' expenditure on their behalf." |
| The regulatory body was set up to restore public confidence following the MPs' pay and expenses scandal in 2009, which led to the jailing of a number of MPs. | The regulatory body was set up to restore public confidence following the MPs' pay and expenses scandal in 2009, which led to the jailing of a number of MPs. |
| The full list of written-off debts | The full list of written-off debts |
| Barry Gardiner (Labour, Brent North) - £77.30 | Barry Gardiner (Labour, Brent North) - £77.30 |
| Caroline Dinenage (Conservative, Gosport) - £13.50 | Caroline Dinenage (Conservative, Gosport) - £13.50 |
| Charles Hendry (Conservative, Wealden - until May 2015) - £87.60 | Charles Hendry (Conservative, Wealden - until May 2015) - £87.60 |
| Chris Skidmore (Conservative, Kingswood) - £125.00 | Chris Skidmore (Conservative, Kingswood) - £125.00 |
| Clive Efford (Labour, Eltham) - £79.20 | Clive Efford (Labour, Eltham) - £79.20 |
| Daniel Poulter (Conservative, Central Suffolk and North Ipswich) - £229.62 | Daniel Poulter (Conservative, Central Suffolk and North Ipswich) - £229.62 |
| David Mowat (Conservative, Warrington South) - £35.00 | David Mowat (Conservative, Warrington South) - £35.00 |
| Edward Timpson (Conservative, Crewe and Nantwich) - £127.70 | Edward Timpson (Conservative, Crewe and Nantwich) - £127.70 |
| Frank Dobson (Labour, Holborn and St Pancras - until May 2015) - £7.50 | Frank Dobson (Labour, Holborn and St Pancras - until May 2015) - £7.50 |
| Frank Roy (Labour, Motherwell and Wishaw - until May 2015) - £63.37 | Frank Roy (Labour, Motherwell and Wishaw - until May 2015) - £63.37 |
| Guy Opperman (Conservative, Hexham) - £161.09 | Guy Opperman (Conservative, Hexham) - £161.09 |
| Ian Mearns (Labour, Gateshead) - £10.00 | Ian Mearns (Labour, Gateshead) - £10.00 |
| Joe Benton (Labour, Bootle - until May 2015) - £309.15 | Joe Benton (Labour, Bootle - until May 2015) - £309.15 |
| Julie Hilling (Labour, Bolton West - until May 2015) - £75.30 | Julie Hilling (Labour, Bolton West - until May 2015) - £75.30 |
| Khalid Mahmood (Labour, Birmingham Perry Barr) - £48.00 | Khalid Mahmood (Labour, Birmingham Perry Barr) - £48.00 |
| Laurence Robertson (Conservative, Tewkesbury) - £27.00 | Laurence Robertson (Conservative, Tewkesbury) - £27.00 |
| Michael Meacher (Labour, Oldham West and Royton) - £27.00 | Michael Meacher (Labour, Oldham West and Royton) - £27.00 |
| Paul Farrelly (Labour, Newcastle-under-Lyme) - £28.00 | Paul Farrelly (Labour, Newcastle-under-Lyme) - £28.00 |
| Peter Bone (Conservative, Wellingborough) - £40.17 | Peter Bone (Conservative, Wellingborough) - £40.17 |
| Sian James (Labour, Swansea East - until May 2015) - £193.00 | Sian James (Labour, Swansea East - until May 2015) - £193.00 |
| Stephen Barclay (Conservative, North East Cambridgeshire) - £62.75 | Stephen Barclay (Conservative, North East Cambridgeshire) - £62.75 |
| Stephen McCabe (Labour, Birmingham Selly Oak) - £27.00 | Stephen McCabe (Labour, Birmingham Selly Oak) - £27.00 |
| Stephen Williams (Liberal Democrat, Bristol West - until May 2015) - £209.18 | Stephen Williams (Liberal Democrat, Bristol West - until May 2015) - £209.18 |
| Stewart Jackson (Conservative, Peterborough) - £7.50 | Stewart Jackson (Conservative, Peterborough) - £7.50 |
| Tim Yeo (Conservative, South Suffolk - until May 2015) £10.00 | Tim Yeo (Conservative, South Suffolk - until May 2015) £10.00 |
| Tobias Ellwood (Conservative, Bournemouth East) - £26.50 | Tobias Ellwood (Conservative, Bournemouth East) - £26.50 |