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MPs can claim £10,000 kitchens MPs' £10,000 kitchens on expenses
(40 minutes later)
MPs are allowed to claim expenses of up to £10,000 for a new kitchen, £2,000 for furniture and £750 for a TV or stereo for their second homes.MPs are allowed to claim expenses of up to £10,000 for a new kitchen, £2,000 for furniture and £750 for a TV or stereo for their second homes.
The figures are revealed in the so-called "John Lewis list", used by Commons officials to determine whether an expenditure claim is reasonable. Other claims allowable include £6,335 for a new bathroom, £299.99 for air conditioning units, £300 per rug, £50 for a shredder and £1,000 for a bed.
MPs can claim about £23,000 a year each towards the cost of their second homes. The figures are in the so-called "John Lewis list" used by Commons officials to list maximum amounts for items.
In February the Commons was ordered to release a breakdown of the claims under the Additional Costs Allowance. Most MPs can claim items from the list up to a maximum of £23,000 a year.
It followed an Information Tribunal hearing at which Commons resources chief Andrew Walker revealed the existence of the list. The existence of the list - based on prices at the John Lewis store "because it was highly rated by Which magazine" - came to light during a recent information tribunal.
But he had resisted publishing the list, explaining that if MPs saw "what the maximum price we will allow for such an item is, it will become the going rate". 'Going rate'
On Thursday the list was published, following a Freedom of Information request by the Press Association. It is used by Commons validation clerks for the Additional Costs Allowance but had not been made available to MPs.
It shows MPs can claim up to £10,000 towards the cost of installing a new kitchen in their second homes, as well as more than £6,335 for a bathroom, £750 for a television or stereo, £300 air-conditioning units and £2,000 for furniture. Commons resources chief Andrew Walker explained he was reluctant to publish it because if MPs saw what the maximum price allowed for items was, it would "become the going rate".
ALLOWABLE CLAIMS New kitchen: £10,000New bathroom: £6,335Washing machine: £350Flooring: £35 per square metre In full: 'John Lewis list'
But on Thursday the list was published, following a Freedom of Information request by the Press Association.
Limits include £1,000 for a bed, £600 for a dining table, £550 for a fridge-freezer and £200 for a blender.
Dry cleaning for both clothes and household items is permitted "within reasonable limits" but "antique, luxury or premium-grade" furnishings are not allowed, nor are "extravagant or luxurious" items.
The information tribunal has ordered the Commons to produce a detailed breakdown of claims under the Additional Costs Allowance - which can be claimed by all MPs who do not represent an inner London constituency.
It followed a three-year Freedom of Information battle by two journalists and a campaigner, who wanted to see more details of what was being claimed.
The tribunal heard that MPs claim ACA to cover the costs of staying overnight away from their main home, including rent, hotel bills and mortgage interest payments.
Each MP can claim about £23,000 a year and can submit claims of up to £250 without a receipt and up to £400 a month for food.