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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| 'Mortgage agreement' claim probed | 'Mortgage agreement' claim probed |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An inquiry will be launched into claims a Labour MP was given permission to claim allowances for mortgage interest he no longer paid, says Downing Street. | An inquiry will be launched into claims a Labour MP was given permission to claim allowances for mortgage interest he no longer paid, says Downing Street. |
| The claims appear in the Daily Telegraph and are the latest in a series of stories about MPs expenses. | The claims appear in the Daily Telegraph and are the latest in a series of stories about MPs expenses. |
| It said MP Ben Chapman benefited by £15,000 over 10 months from the arrangement, which documents suggested was not unique to him. | It said MP Ben Chapman benefited by £15,000 over 10 months from the arrangement, which documents suggested was not unique to him. |
| Mr Chapman told the BBC: "I do not believe I have done anything wrong." | Mr Chapman told the BBC: "I do not believe I have done anything wrong." |
| When asked if it was true that he had admitted continuing to claim for interest payments on his entire mortgage after repaying £295,000, he told the BBC: "It may be. I don't know". | When asked if it was true that he had admitted continuing to claim for interest payments on his entire mortgage after repaying £295,000, he told the BBC: "It may be. I don't know". |
| When it was put to him that he may have been claiming more than he was paying, the MP said: "If I've done so it was following the advice the fees office gave me. I'll have to discuss it with them and see how it should be tackled". | When it was put to him that he may have been claiming more than he was paying, the MP said: "If I've done so it was following the advice the fees office gave me. I'll have to discuss it with them and see how it should be tackled". |
| Mr Chapman is not the first to say that everything he claimed was done on the advice of the Commons authorities Carole WalkerBBC political correspondent Who writes allowance rules? | Mr Chapman is not the first to say that everything he claimed was done on the advice of the Commons authorities Carole WalkerBBC political correspondent Who writes allowance rules? |
| According to the Telegraph, correspondence showed the MP sought and was given permission to reclaim the interest payments on the full value of his original mortgage, despite paying off £295,000 of the loan in 2002. | According to the Telegraph, correspondence showed the MP sought and was given permission to reclaim the interest payments on the full value of his original mortgage, despite paying off £295,000 of the loan in 2002. |
| A Number 10 spokesman said the Chief Whip had spoken to Mr Chapman. | A Number 10 spokesman said the Chief Whip had spoken to Mr Chapman. |
| "He is investigating documents provided by Mr Chapman and will seek further clarification from him and the Fees Office in the morning," said the spokesman. | "He is investigating documents provided by Mr Chapman and will seek further clarification from him and the Fees Office in the morning," said the spokesman. |
| Mr Chapman's allowances were scrutinised by the fees office, part of the Department of Resources within the House of Commons. | Mr Chapman's allowances were scrutinised by the fees office, part of the Department of Resources within the House of Commons. |
| The officials are ultimately responsible to the House of Commons Speaker, Michael Martin MP, and their work is overseen by committees of MPs. | |
| BBC Political Correspondent Carole Walker said the "latest twist" in the expenses controversy "will put the spotlight on the fees office". | BBC Political Correspondent Carole Walker said the "latest twist" in the expenses controversy "will put the spotlight on the fees office". |
| "Mr Chapman is not the first to say that everything he claimed was done on the advice of the Commons authorities," she said. | "Mr Chapman is not the first to say that everything he claimed was done on the advice of the Commons authorities," she said. |
| The paper's allegations come as Mr Martin is to make a statement to MPs on Monday, amid growing calls for him to stand down over the expenses controversy. | The paper's allegations come as Mr Martin is to make a statement to MPs on Monday, amid growing calls for him to stand down over the expenses controversy. |