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MPs' expenses claims are revealed MPs' expenses claims are revealed
(40 minutes later)
Several MPs' expenses claims have been revealed, showing that John Prescott received £4,000 in a year for food and Tony Blair had his TV licence paid. Commons speaker Michael Martin has released details of top MPs' expenses - including John Prescott's £4,000 food bill and a TV licence for Tony Blair.
Mr Prescott, Mr Blair, Gordon Brown and ex-Tory leader Michael Howard also had council tax bills for their second home paid for in 2003/04, the figures show. All six of the MPs covered in the 2003/04 figures claimed mortgage interest payments on their second homes and five had their council tax paid.
All six MPs whose details were given received mortgage interest payments. The news follows a three-year Freedom of Information (FOI) battle by the BBC.
The revelations follow a three-year battle by the BBC to have the expenses details published. There is no suggestion that any of the claims were in breach of rules but they shed further light on MPs' spending.
Cleaning costsCleaning costs
Former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy and former Tory MP Jonathan Sayeed were the other two MPs covered.
ADDITIONAL COSTS ALLOWANCES 2003/04 Michael Howard - £20,347John Prescott - £20,057Jonathan Sayeed - £18,618Tony Blair - £15,490Gordon Brown - £14,304 Charles Kennedy - £12,869Figures supplied by Commons CommissionADDITIONAL COSTS ALLOWANCES 2003/04 Michael Howard - £20,347John Prescott - £20,057Jonathan Sayeed - £18,618Tony Blair - £15,490Gordon Brown - £14,304 Charles Kennedy - £12,869Figures supplied by Commons Commission
There is no suggestion that any of the claims were in breach of rules but the figures shed further light on the MPs' political life.
In 2003/04, the maximum amount MPs could claim for on Additional Cost Allowance, for running a second home was £20.902. It is currently £23,083.
Of the six MPs covered by the BBC request, Mr Howard spent the most on "additional costs" - including mortgages, utility bills, council tax, phone bills, cleaning, food and provisions and household repairs, claiming £20,347.Of the six MPs covered by the BBC request, Mr Howard spent the most on "additional costs" - including mortgages, utility bills, council tax, phone bills, cleaning, food and provisions and household repairs, claiming £20,347.
Mr Prescott was next on £20,057, followed by Mr Sayeed on £18,618. Mr Prescott, deputy prime minister until last year, was next on £20,057, followed by Conservative MP Jonathan Sayeed, who has since stood down, on £18,618.
ArgumentsArguments
Mr Blair spent £15,490 and Mr Brown £14,304.Mr Blair spent £15,490 and Mr Brown £14,304.
Meanwhile, Mr Kennedy's £12,869 additional costs claim all went on mortgage interest payments. Meanwhile, then Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy's £12,869 additional costs claim all went on mortgage interest payments.
Mr Prescott claimed the most on groceries of the six covered by the BBC's request, with Mr Blair the only other MP of the six to claim under this category, for £174.41. Mr Prescott claimed the most on food and groceries of the six covered by the BBC's request - £4,000 - with Mr Blair the only other MP to claim under this category, for £174.41.
Under the rules, MPs can spend up to £400 a month on groceries.Under the rules, MPs can spend up to £400 a month on groceries.
Mr Blair, prime minister from 1997 until last year, had a £116 for TV licence paid.Mr Blair, prime minister from 1997 until last year, had a £116 for TV licence paid.
The BBC originally made its FOI request in 2005 but the House of Commons Commission argued that, a detailed breakdown of expenses could expose MPs to a security risk. However, in January this year the information commissioner ruled that some of the details should be published. The figures supplied also include office costs, travel and telephone expenses.
In 2003/04, the maximum amount MPs could claim for on Additional Cost Allowance, for running a second home was £20.902. It is currently £23,083.
The BBC originally made its FOI request in 2005.
But the House of Commons Commission argued that, a detailed breakdown of expenses could expose MPs to a security risk.
However, in January this year the information commissioner ruled that some of the details should be published.
Second requestSecond request
Following a separate FOI request by campaigner Heather Brooke, the House of Commons Commission has also released details of the second home costs of nine senior politicians from 2005/06.Following a separate FOI request by campaigner Heather Brooke, the House of Commons Commission has also released details of the second home costs of nine senior politicians from 2005/06.
ADDITIONAL COSTS ALLOWANCES 2005/06 George Osbourne - £21,533Margaret Beckett - £21,415David Cameron - £21,359Mark Oaten - £21,178William Hague - £20,071Gordon Brown - £18,681John Prescott - £12,825Sir Menzies Campbell - £11,611Tony Blair - £8,398.68Figures supplied by Commons Commission ADDITIONAL COSTS ALLOWANCES 2005/06 George Osborne - £21,533Margaret Beckett - £21,415David Cameron - £21,359Mark Oaten - £21,178William Hague - £20,071Gordon Brown - £18,681John Prescott - £12,825Sir Menzies Campbell - £11,611Tony Blair - £8,398.68Figures supplied by Commons Commission
Conservative leader David Cameron claimed nearly all of his permitted allowance in mortgage interest/rent payments - £21,293 - and did not claim for other items such as council tax, food, cleaning or repairs, the figures show.Conservative leader David Cameron claimed nearly all of his permitted allowance in mortgage interest/rent payments - £21,293 - and did not claim for other items such as council tax, food, cleaning or repairs, the figures show.
Sir Menzies Campbell, then Lib Dem leader, claimed the most for food of the nine MPs that year - £3,700, with John Prescott claiming just over half the amount he did two years earlier - £2,300.Sir Menzies Campbell, then Lib Dem leader, claimed the most for food of the nine MPs that year - £3,700, with John Prescott claiming just over half the amount he did two years earlier - £2,300.
Ms Brooke faces a High Court battle to get a more detailed receipt by receipt breakdown of the costs after the Commons rejected a request by the information commissioner to release them.Ms Brooke faces a High Court battle to get a more detailed receipt by receipt breakdown of the costs after the Commons rejected a request by the information commissioner to release them.
The Commons authorities claim releasing details of travel routes and addresses could compromise MPs' security.The Commons authorities claim releasing details of travel routes and addresses could compromise MPs' security.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, which campaigns for lower taxes, said: "This is the first step towards real parliamentary transparency, but there is still a long way to go."Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, which campaigns for lower taxes, said: "This is the first step towards real parliamentary transparency, but there is still a long way to go."
But Labour MP Ann Cryer said the pursuit of expenses details by journalists was "becoming a witch hunt" and politicians were "all being tarred with the same brush".But Labour MP Ann Cryer said the pursuit of expenses details by journalists was "becoming a witch hunt" and politicians were "all being tarred with the same brush".
She told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "We are all assumed to be wrong 'uns."She told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "We are all assumed to be wrong 'uns."
But Liberal Democrat transport spokesman and anti-sleaze campaigner Norman Baker said: "This is public money we are talking about and we have to be accountable for it."But Liberal Democrat transport spokesman and anti-sleaze campaigner Norman Baker said: "This is public money we are talking about and we have to be accountable for it."