Sandra welcomes expenses publication

Details of MP allowances were finally released by the House of Commons yesterday morning more than a year after the High Court ordered their publication.

Mrs Gidley called the move “long overdue”, adding that the saga had created “a culture of suspicion”.

And she has released a series of answers to questions she has faced in recent weeks while the expenses controversy has been unfolding.

She said: “I am pleased that all MPs’ expenses are finally available to the public.

“I now hope that their publication will begin to rebuild the trust between the people and their elected representatives.

“I hope, too, that my constituents will feel free to examine my claims, and if they have any concerns or questions, should not hesitate to get in contact.”

Sandra’s frequently asked questions

Why should the public pay for your food when you have to eat anyway?

The Office Costs Allowance recognises that we have to work in two places and allows us to claim for expenses we would not normally have incurred if we had not had to spend nights away from home in London. The spirit of the rules is that we should only claim what is an additional expense up to a maximum of £400 per calendar month. The problem is that we frequently have to be in and around the Palace of Westminster for votes etc and sometimes have to be here until 10 o clock at night . This means that we are often restricted to eating in one of the House of Commons Outlets. In my early days as an MP I submitted detailed receipts but was told that this was not necessary so since then I have claimed a round figure which covers the extra expense incurred. I have never claimed during the recess or when away from the House on Select Committee work. The rules have recently changed and we are automatically paid £25 for each night spent in London (when the House is sitting) but I have previously always claimed less than this. By comparison with Southampton City Council’s per diem of £27.20 this would seem reasonable.

Why do local MPs have widely varying transport costs?

Quite simply some constituencies are smaller than others and we all do our jobs differently. My constituency is semi rural and quite large so if I am going backwards and forwards between events in different parts of the constituency the miles can soon add up. I travel to London using public transport whenever possible and generally only use my car for this when I have goods to transport. I sometimes travel backwards in the middle of the week for important constituency engagements and this adds to the total cost.

Why are your staffing costs higher than other MPs?

The part of the job of being an MP that I regard as most important is trying to get things done on behalf of my constituents. My staff are vital in helping me with this. I have approximately 70,000 constituents, I actively encourage people to write to me if they have a problem, and this can generate a lot of work. I could not do this alone and I would add that I receive many compliments about the helpfulness of my staff who are always on the end of a phone during normal office hours (some MPs’ offices are only open part time). My costs for the latest year are higher than usual because of long term staff sickness and service to constituents would have suffered had I not employed a replacement).

Why can’t you commute?

Quite simply, the job is not a 9 to 5. At least twice a week we vote at 10 in the evening and this would mean catching the 11.05 home. This train stops more frequently than earlier trains and I would not get home until approximately 1 in the morning. I often have breakfast meetings and to be in Westminster for 8:30 in the morning I would have to be up before 6. This would not be a problem if it was a one off but it would be very wearing to have to do this on a regular basis. Also, by not commuting I have at least three hours a day available to work on behalf of my constituents.

Have you ever employed members of your family?

I once employed my daughter for an afternoon’s typing as the typist was off sick and there was a backlog of correspondence. She was paid the same hourly rate as my regular typist and her output was just as good.

Why can’t you stay in a hotel instead of having a second home?

I could and some MPs choose to use their Additional Costs Allowance to do this. I now rent a furnished flat and there were a number of reasons for me choosing to do this.

1. London hotels are expensive and so there would not be a saving to the taxpayer 2. It saves me the hassle of booking hotel rooms and gives me flexibility if the House of Commons suddenly has to sit later than expected and our plans are thrown into disarray.

3. I don’t have to lug so much stuff backwards and forwards each week (and remember everything!) 4. If you are away from home for a good chunk of the year hotel rooms can become quite depressing and demoralising. A flat is a more personal space.

5. My flat is within walking distance of Westminster and was deliberately chosen to be on tube/bus routes to reduce transport costs.

Why do you spend so much on stamps?

I use my communications allowance to produce information so that my constituents know what I have been doing on their behalf. To keep costs down many of these are delivered by volunteers but we have to use postage for some of the rural areas.

Doesn’t party political activity take place from your office?

There is sometimes a fine dividing line between what is party political and what isn’t. For example, someone will write to me because I am their MP and will ask me to do something but will often ask my opinion on something or ask about party policy. We do use the office as a postal address for political correspondence etc but again this is just for ease of admin as it is can be hard to work out where the boundaries are. However, the local Liberal Democrat party does pay a sum to the Fees Office each year for part time use of a corner of the office (proportionate to time and space used). Some MPs rent offices from their local Conservative, Liberal or Labour Club and it could be argued that the local political association is benefiting from tax payers money.

Why can’t you buy your own TV and TV licence?

This is an allowable expense as I pay for my own TV and licence at home and would not have to make this purchase if I was based at home. Being an MP means that it is useful to be able to catch up with the news. Even someone staying in a very cheap hotel is given a TV to watch!

Why do some MPs have much lower stationery expenses?

I would question whether they were doing all they could on behalf of their constituents and questions should be asked of those who never appear to write any letters!

Why can’t you all live together in one big block of flats?

I do think that there is a strong case for parliament buying a stock of one bedroom flats as second homes and allowing MPs to use these. My personal belief is that the constituency home should always be the same home and the tax payer should not be funding family homes in London (with the exception of a small number of senior people who, by necessity, have to spend more time in London.