Expenses and Allowances

I am publishing the details of my allowances so that my constituents can see clearly how I am spending taxpayer's money.

My spending has also been closely monitored and approved by the House of Commons Fees Office.

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Additional Costs Allowance (ACA) is paid to help MPs from outside London with the expense of living in London while Parliament is sitting. The primary items for which a Member can claim are: cost of hotel stays, mortgage payments (interest only) or rent, food, utilities, council tax/rates, telephone and communications, cleaning, service/maintenance and repairs/insurance/security.

In the last financial year 2008/09 the following payments were made: £8580, £2860, £2860, £5720 and £2860. All of these payments were for rent only.

The Incidental Expenses Provision (IEP) covers the costs of running my constituency office in Bexhill and my Westminster office. It includes office rent, telephone, equipment and supplies.

Staffing allowance: This includes the salary, national insurance and pension costs of my staff. Their salary is paid to them directly by the House of Commons Finance Department, although you will frequently see that listed as part of my expenses. My current employees include a Chief of Staff and a Parliamentary Assistant in Westminster and a Constituency Manager in Bexhill and occasional extra secretarial support. I have never employed any member of my family.

The Communications Allowance was introduced in 2007/08 and is paid to cover the costs of newsletters and my website to update constituents on what I have been doing for Bexhill & Battle.

The Travel Allowance includes the cost of travel on Parliamentary business only. Personal travel costs are not covered. Although I regularly use my car, I travel by train frequently to reduce the environmental impact of my travel.