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More assembly expenses revealed More assembly expenses revealed
(about 1 hour later)
The assembly has published details of MLAs' expenses for the five years between 2003 and 2008.The assembly has published details of MLAs' expenses for the five years between 2003 and 2008.
The move follows widespread concern over Westminster MPs' expenses claims earlier this year.The move follows widespread concern over Westminster MPs' expenses claims earlier this year.
It also echoes moves by the Scottish parliament in a bid to improve transparency and accountability.It also echoes moves by the Scottish parliament in a bid to improve transparency and accountability.
The BBC had already obtained and published details last week for some of the past five years.The BBC had already obtained and published details last week for some of the past five years.
But for the first time we have seen the office cost allowances for 2003/2004 and 2005/6.But for the first time we have seen the office cost allowances for 2003/2004 and 2005/6.
The assembly was suspended for much of that time yet many members claimed the maximum £48,000 office cost allowance which was then available.The assembly was suspended for much of that time yet many members claimed the maximum £48,000 office cost allowance which was then available.
Lord Kilclooney paid a portion of his allowance into a company
The money is used by assembly members to cover the cost of running offices, such as paying staff, rent, rates, and purchasing office equipment.The money is used by assembly members to cover the cost of running offices, such as paying staff, rent, rates, and purchasing office equipment.
These two years show the same trend as in other years, which is that Sinn Fein MLAs claim vastly more than other assembly members for office support and secretarial services from their party. All claims were within the rules and approved by the assembly. These two years show the same trend as in other years, which is that Sinn Fein MLAs claim vastly more than other assembly members for office support and secretarial services from their party.
A number of Sinn Fein MLAs, including party leader Gerry Adams, paid sums of about £17,000 in 2005/06 out of their allowances to the party for secretarial services. He also paid almost £9,000 to the party for rent on his west Belfast office in 2005/06. All claims were within the rules and approved by the assembly.
In 2005/6 the DUP leader Peter Robinson paid his party £5,600 for rent for his office. He also purchased a briefcase for around £125. A number of Sinn Fein MLAs, including party leader Gerry Adams, paid sums of about £17,000 in 2005/06 out of their allowances to the party for secretarial services.
He also paid almost £9,000 to the party for rent on his west Belfast office in 2005/06.
In 2005/6 the DUP leader Peter Robinson paid his party £5,600 for rent for his office. He also purchased a briefcase for about £125.
Company directorCompany director
The former Ulster Unionist MLA John Taylor, now Lord Kilclooney paid, over a number of years, a portion of his office cost allowances into a company called West Ulster Estates. The former Ulster Unionist MLA John Taylor, now Lord Kilclooney, paid over a number of years a portion of his office cost allowances into a company called West Ulster Estates.
He is a director of the company which ceased property development 40 years ago and has since been a secretarial management company. In 2005/06 he paid £2,800 a month to the company for research costs totalling £33,600.He is a director of the company which ceased property development 40 years ago and has since been a secretarial management company. In 2005/06 he paid £2,800 a month to the company for research costs totalling £33,600.
Lord Kilclooney told the BBC that this arrangement was approved by the assembly and that he used the company to administer the money for staff costs, utilities, rates and rent rather than personally handle the funds. Lord Kilclooney told the BBC that this arrangement was approved by the assembly.
He said that he used the company to administer the money for staff costs, utilities, rates and rent, rather than personally handling the funds.
"I went through the Stormont fees office about this. I didn't want the money paid to me directly. The accounts of the company were audited externally each year and lodged with the companies office.""I went through the Stormont fees office about this. I didn't want the money paid to me directly. The accounts of the company were audited externally each year and lodged with the companies office."
Patsy McGlone paid a relative £2,400 in rent in 2005/06
All these claims were in line with the rules laid down by the assembly.All these claims were in line with the rules laid down by the assembly.
It was also within the rules to rent from a relative.It was also within the rules to rent from a relative.
One SDLP assembly member, Patsy McGlone, paid a relative £2,400 in rent at a cost of £300 per month in 2005/06.One SDLP assembly member, Patsy McGlone, paid a relative £2,400 in rent at a cost of £300 per month in 2005/06.
He told the BBC that he was renting the premises in Magherfelt from another landlord when it was purchased by a relation who is a businessman. He told the BBC that he was renting the premises in Magherafelt from another landlord when it was purchased by a relation who is a businessman.
Mr McGlone said he left the premises within a year of his relative acquiring the property. Instead of renting another office in Magherafelt he used the funds to pay staff at two other offices he was already operating in Cookstown and Maghera.Mr McGlone said he left the premises within a year of his relative acquiring the property. Instead of renting another office in Magherafelt he used the funds to pay staff at two other offices he was already operating in Cookstown and Maghera.
Ulster Unionist MLA Billy Armstrong paid more than £3,000 for a safe in 2005/06 which he used to store confidential documents.Ulster Unionist MLA Billy Armstrong paid more than £3,000 for a safe in 2005/06 which he used to store confidential documents.
Alliance assembly member Seamus Close claimed the least in the year 2005/6, with a total of £22,518.Alliance assembly member Seamus Close claimed the least in the year 2005/6, with a total of £22,518.