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DUP MPs to repay £14k in expenses | DUP MPs to repay £14k in expenses |
(about 10 hours later) | |
The DUP's nine MPs have been asked to pay back a total of more than £14,000 in expenses under a new set of rules drawn up by Sir Thomas Legg. | The DUP's nine MPs have been asked to pay back a total of more than £14,000 in expenses under a new set of rules drawn up by Sir Thomas Legg. |
William McCrea is to repay £5,329, the highest amount requested. | William McCrea is to repay £5,329, the highest amount requested. |
The South Antrim MP said the repayment related to furniture he purchased, duplicated service charges and a duplicated allowance for a TV licence. | The South Antrim MP said the repayment related to furniture he purchased, duplicated service charges and a duplicated allowance for a TV licence. |
East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson and North Belfast representative Nigel Dodds were not required to repay any money. | East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson and North Belfast representative Nigel Dodds were not required to repay any money. |
East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell has been asked to repay £2,656. | East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell has been asked to repay £2,656. |
He said this related to four items, including accommodation expenses which exceeded the maximum claim allowed. | He said this related to four items, including accommodation expenses which exceeded the maximum claim allowed. |
Iris Robinson, wife of party leader Peter, was told to repay £2,274. | Iris Robinson, wife of party leader Peter, was told to repay £2,274. |
Questioning | |
The Strangford MP said the amount related to three items, all of which she said she was questioning. | The Strangford MP said the amount related to three items, all of which she said she was questioning. |
"One relates to the only item of furniture where I believe Sir Thomas has not properly applied the guidelines, one is the identical issue in respect of Peter Robinson and the remaining item was for a service charge which was duplicated, but which we believed the amount paid simply reduced a subsequent bill." | "One relates to the only item of furniture where I believe Sir Thomas has not properly applied the guidelines, one is the identical issue in respect of Peter Robinson and the remaining item was for a service charge which was duplicated, but which we believed the amount paid simply reduced a subsequent bill." |
Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson said he had been asked to repay £1,964, while former party leader Ian Paisley has been asked for £1,181. | Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson said he had been asked to repay £1,964, while former party leader Ian Paisley has been asked for £1,181. |
Upper Bann representative David Simpson is to return £400 in respect of a claim he made for food and party leader Peter Robinson is to repay £229. | Upper Bann representative David Simpson is to return £400 in respect of a claim he made for food and party leader Peter Robinson is to repay £229. |
Mr Robinson said there would be "no equivocation or quibbling over any repayment and that all payments should be made immediately". | Mr Robinson said there would be "no equivocation or quibbling over any repayment and that all payments should be made immediately". |
"Where there are genuine disputes about his provisional conclusions these can be followed up but we will accept entirely Sir Thomas Legg's final determination," he added. | "Where there are genuine disputes about his provisional conclusions these can be followed up but we will accept entirely Sir Thomas Legg's final determination," he added. |
IN DETAIL Expenses to be repaid | |
William McCrea, DUP, £5,329 | |
Gregory Campbell, DUP, £2,656 | |
Iris Robinson, DUP, £2,274 | |
Jeffrey Donaldson, DUP, £1,964 | |
Sylvia Hermon, UUP, £1,365 | |
Ian Paisley, DUP, £1,181 | |
David Simpson, DUP, £400 | |
Peter Robinson, DUP, £299 | |
Mark Durkan, SDLP, £236 | |
Earlier on Tuesday, the SDLP said leader Mark Durkan was recommended to repay £236 relating to overpayment of council tax in 2006 and his wife's share of a London hotel bill. | Earlier on Tuesday, the SDLP said leader Mark Durkan was recommended to repay £236 relating to overpayment of council tax in 2006 and his wife's share of a London hotel bill. |
Mr Durkan said that while some of Sir Thomas's findings seemed petty, close scrutiny of MPs expenses was justified. | Mr Durkan said that while some of Sir Thomas's findings seemed petty, close scrutiny of MPs expenses was justified. |
"Obviously this has happened in the context where there have been outlandish and outrageous claims made and there has been very poor administration. | "Obviously this has happened in the context where there have been outlandish and outrageous claims made and there has been very poor administration. |
"So an exercise like Thomas Legg has carried out was needed," he said. | "So an exercise like Thomas Legg has carried out was needed," he said. |
"If that exercise turns out to be excessive in the right direction then we're just going to have to live with that." | "If that exercise turns out to be excessive in the right direction then we're just going to have to live with that." |
Meanwhile, the South Belfast MP, Alasdair McDonnell, said he had not been asked to repay any of his claims. | |
UUP MP Lady Sylvia Hermon said she was asked to repay £1,365. | UUP MP Lady Sylvia Hermon said she was asked to repay £1,365. |
Lady Hermon said she had received a letter about repaying rent on a London flat which had been paid twice in the same month by the Fees Office. | |
"In January 2007, my then landlord increased the rent of the London flat and he also wrote to me asking for the rent to be paid a month in advance," she said. | |
"Consequently, there was indeed a double payment of rent by the Fees Office in the month of January, but none was then paid in February." | |
Lady Hermon said she would be querying the repayment request. |