Jim Paice's Expenses 2004 - 2009
February 2010
Sir Thomas Legg's report confirms that I have no issues surrounding my expense claims and do not need to repay any money.
October 2009
Along with most other MPs I have received a letter from Sir Thomas Legg who has been examining the claims of MPs over the last 5 years. He has simply asked to see copies of my annual mortgage interest statements which I am happy to provide. He states that he sees no cause for action on any other matter. Obviously I am pleased that his investigation has shown that I have behaved properly regarding my expenses which has always been my intention
June 2009
During June the full details of MP’s claims under the Additional Costs Allowance (for being away from home) and Incidental Expenditure Provision (office costs) will be published. In the meantime because of understandable public anger about some MP’s expenses I wish to be open about my own expenditure for the four years 2004/5 to 2007/8 which will be published. The year 2008/9 will follow shortly and future claims will be published as they are made.
Firstly I wish to provide the total figues for each year compared to the maximum permitted:
2004/5 max: £20902 my claim: £20166
2005/6 max: £21634 my claim: £13408
2006/7 max: £22110 my claim: £20202
2007/8 max: £23083 my claim: £23083
UPDATED 2008/9 max: £24006 my claim: £20513
My main home has always been in the constituency apart from three years when I was a government minister and was required to have my main home in London. The door to door journey from my constituency home to the House of Commons is about two hours by rail or by car and as I am usually in Parliament until after 10.00pm and back in my office by 8-30am it is not possible to commute daily. I own a small flat in London where I usually live from Monday to Thursday. I have changed flat once in the last 22 years and paid Capital Gains Tax on the proceeds.
During the above four years I have used my Additional Costs Allowance to pay for mortgage interest, services charges, utility bills, council tax and food. I have also furnished the flat and carried out some maintenance as detailed below.
2004/5 Furniture £3025; vacuum cleaner £149.95; microwave £89.99; standard TV £549.97
2005/6 Dishwasher £199; furnishings £189.19
2006/7 Furniture £2130; linen and furnishings £371.35; also deposit on windows – see below.
2007/8 Replacement windows. Total cost £6915.97; these were installed as part of the overall replacement in the block of flats and as required I received prior approval for the expenditure.
The furniture was a dining table and chairs which I did not previously have, settees and armchair to replace ones bought in 1987, a chest of drawers and bedside table and a standard television also to replace one bought in 1987.
All these items are clearly within the rules for the additional costs allowance however that alone is not good enough. Whilst spending public money I have always sought value for money and do not spend on extravagant items. I believe that I have kept to the spirit of the rules in that regard. I have never had a claim queried or rejected by the fees office.