THE EXPENSE claims of House Of Commons MPs for the final six months of last year were down by nearly 20 per cent, following the eruption of the expenses scandal earlier in the year, according to official figures released yesterday.
The 650 MPs then serving claimed just over £10 million (€12.1 million) in subsistence, accommodation, offices, telephones and incidentals between June and December, compared with £11.77 million in the six months before.
It must be emphasised that the two periods may not be directly comparable since MPs submit their claims irregularly and many claims are clearly still outstanding.
For example, former Democratic Unionist leader Dr Ian Paisley snr claimed just £1,271 for travel before the end of the year, while his Lagan Valley MP colleague Jeffrey Donaldson submitted for £8,497. Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew, who does not take up her seat in the Commons, claimed £561 for travel.
Prime minister David Cameron, who was then leader of the opposition, claimed £12,978.88, including £8,205.53 to run his Oxfordshire constituency office, along with £208 for a council tax bill, £822 for mortgage interest and £71 a month for home insurance.
Expenses are now paid out by the Independent Parliamentary Standards.
Relations between the body and a large number of MPs are poisonous in the wake of the introduction of a new system since the new parliament was elected, which many MPs complain is too bureaucratic and too slow, leaving many of them out of pocket.
Last month, more than 400 MPs found that their salaries were underpaid by £120.
However, relations are particularly bitter over limitations to the office and staff costs which MPs can claim, with many complaining that they will have no choice but to cut the pay of some of their staff or make some redundant to stay within budget.