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Hoon caught up in new claims row Hoon caught up in new claims row
(about 2 hours later)
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has become the latest senior minister to be embroiled in a row over MPs' expenses. Geoff Hoon has become embroiled in the row about MPs' expenses over allowances he claimed for his constituency home, while letting out his London flat.
Mr Hoon claimed an allowance for his constituency home, while letting out his London flat and living in a rent-free Whitehall apartment. Meanwhile, he was living in a rent-free Whitehall apartment that came with his former job as defence secretary.
He has defended the claims - made while he was defence secretary - saying he acted within the rules. Mr Hoon, who is now transport minister, has defended the expenses claims, saying they were within the rules.
The Tories say they would ban ministers living in grace-and-favour residences from claiming second home allowances.The Tories say they would ban ministers living in grace-and-favour residences from claiming second home allowances.
Mr Hoon lived in an Admiralty House residence for three-and-a-half years while the property registered with Commons authorities as his main home was let to a private tenant. Writing in the Mail on Sunday Conservative leader David Cameron said the problems in the expenses system were shared by all parties.
"We are all implicated and we must all find a solution," he said.
MPs needed expenses, but there had to be more transparency, he said. He added that if elected the party would end the policy allowing ministers with free homes to claim for a second, which he said had "no justification".
Being within the rules and behaving ethically are not the same thing, unfortunately Norman Baker, Liberal Democrat MP
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has suggested scrapping the controversial second home payment for all MPs, in a shake-up of allowances.
Mr Hoon lived in an Admiralty House residence for three-and-a-half years until June 2006, while the property registered with Commons authorities as his main home was let to a private tenant.
He claimed allowances for the running of his constituency house in Derby by designating that as his second home.He claimed allowances for the running of his constituency house in Derby by designating that as his second home.
Admiralty House, built originally as a home for the First Lord of the Admiralty, contains three apartments which are maintained by the departments whose ministers have use of them.
Mr Hoon said he went live there on security advice.
He told the Mail on Sunday: "I was told unless I went into secure premises I would have to have round-the-clock police protection at my home in London and that that would cost the taxpayer a great deal more."
He reportedly said he did "not accept" that he was profiting from the situation.
Ministers investigatedMinisters investigated
Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, who once used freedom of information laws to probe parliamentary expenses, said ministers who got free properties as part of their job should not expect to get a further property from the taxpayer.
"It's quite clearly an improper use of taxpayers' money and it is not sufficient for Geoff Hoon to say he was within the rules. Being within the rules and behaving ethically are not the same thing, unfortunately."
This weekend Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said her marriage is "strong" despite revelations she claimed expenses for adult films watched by her husband.This weekend Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said her marriage is "strong" despite revelations she claimed expenses for adult films watched by her husband.
Ms Smith is also being investigated by the parliamentary commissioner for standards over her decision to claim at least £116,000 in second-home allowances for her family home.Ms Smith is also being investigated by the parliamentary commissioner for standards over her decision to claim at least £116,000 in second-home allowances for her family home.
Meanwhile she stated her main residence - the one at which she spends most time - as her sister's home in London, where she rents a room.Meanwhile she stated her main residence - the one at which she spends most time - as her sister's home in London, where she rents a room.
Work minister Tony McNulty is also being investigated after it recently transpired that, until January, the MP had claimed up to £14,000 a year since 2001/2, for a home in his Harrow East constituency where his parents live. Employment Minister Tony McNulty is also being investigated after it recently transpired that, until January, the MP had claimed up to £14,000 a year since 2001/2, for a home in his Harrow East constituency where his parents live.
The Committee on Standards in Public Life has said it will bring forward a wider inquiry into MPs' expenses, with a report due towards the end of the year.