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Commons to publish some expenses | Commons to publish some expenses |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A list of expenses claimed by Gordon Brown and 16 other current and former MPs is expected to be published later. | |
The figures for travel, staffing, IT, stationery and second homes costs follow freedom of information requests by the BBC and others. | |
House of Commons authorities have been ordered to release them. | |
The FOI requests cover former prime minister Tony Blair, the then Tory leader Michael Howard and Lib Dem counterpart Charles Kennedy. | |
In 2005, the BBC requested details of spending by Mr Blair, his deputy John Prescott, Mr Brown, Mr Howard, Mr Kennedy and former Tory MP Jonathan Sayeed between April 2003 and March 2004. | |
Dispute | |
Other media organisations made similar requests. | |
But the House of Commons Commission argued that a detailed breakdown of travel expenses could identify regular routes travelled by MPs, exposing them to a security risk. | |
However, in January this year the information commissioner ruled that the Commons should publish some of the details, such as individual amounts claimed for travel under three headings: MPs' travel, family travel and staff travel. | |
On Thursday, the Commons Commission said it would not appeal against the information commissioner's ruling. | |
It will release the total amount claimed by each MP under the additional costs allowance for second homes, a breakdown of IT equipment bought, total monthly staffing costs, a breakdown of stationery costs and "incidental allowance" claims. | |
In a separate case, the Commons recently lost an information tribunal hearing and was ordered to release a more detailed breakdown of claims by 14 MPs under their second homes allowance, including receipts where they exist. | |
It has not complied with the request, arguing that revealing MPs' addresses could be a security risk and has appealed to the High Court. | |
But it is expected to publish limited details of travel, staffing and IT expenses relating to the 14, some of whom are also on the BBC list. | |
This list includes Mr Brown, Mr Blair, Tory leader David Cameron and former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell. | |
Meanwhile, the Members' Estimate Committee, chaired by Speaker Michael Martin, is carrying out its own inquiry into MPs' expenses. | |
This followed revelations that Tory MP Derek Conway had employed his son as a researcher while he was student in Newcastle, and made payments to him worth £40,000. | |
The committee is due to report back by the summer with its suggestions to overhaul the expenses system. |