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Commons to publish some expenses Prescott got £4,000 for groceries
(about 3 hours later)
A list of expenses claimed by Gordon Brown and 16 other current and former MPs is expected to be published later. Former deputy prime minister John Prescott claimed £4,000 in a single year for groceries, newly released details of MPs' expenses show.
The figures for travel, staffing, IT, stationery and second homes costs follow freedom of information requests by the BBC and others. He and other figures including Prime Minister Gordon Brown and predecessor Tony Blair had council tax bills for their second home paid for in 2003-04.
House of Commons authorities have been ordered to release them. Mr Blair was the only other of six MPs to claim for groceries in that period, getting £174.71.
The FOI requests cover former prime minister Tony Blair, the then Tory leader Michael Howard and Lib Dem counterpart Charles Kennedy. The revelations follow a freedom of information request by the BBC in 2005.
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. The details also cover ex-Tory leader Michael Howard, Lib Dem counterpart Charles Kennedy and former Tory MP Jonathan Sayeed.
Dispute Among the items listed, Mr Blair claimed £116 for a TV licence, while Mr Brown was reimbursed £11,826.81 for air travel.
Other media organisations made similar requests. Following the BBC's FOI request, 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.
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. We are all assumed to be wrong 'uns Ann Cryer, MP
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.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. On Thursday, the Commons Commission said it would not appeal against the 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. 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. We are all assumed to be getting more money than we should be getting when, in fact, most Members of Parliament are honourable members and we aren't on the fiddle."
'Inappropriate'
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.
"The reality is a lot of this has been brought upon ourselves. The House of Commons authority have been too secretive.
"There has been inappropriate expenditure which the public would not support and on odd occasions - and I agree with Ann that most MPs are honest - there has been corruption."
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.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.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. But it is expected to publish limited details of travel, staffing and IT expenses relating to the 14, who include Mr Brown, Mr Blair, Tory leader David Cameron and former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell.
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.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.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. The committee is due to report by the summer with its suggestions to overhaul the expenses system.