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| My annual expense total is one of the lowest of any MP. |
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| In 2006-2007 I was ranked 588 out of 646 MPs; in 2007-2008, my ranking was 570. |
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| The figures for 2006-2007 were as follows: |
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| Additional Costs Allowance (for second home in Orpington) : £8,085 |
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| Travel : £2,054 |
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| Office running costs : £19,632 |
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| Staff : £82,829 |
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| Stationery, postage, IT : £1,685 |
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| Total : £114,285 |
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| In 2007-2008, the figures were : |
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| Additional Costs Allowance : £11,452 |
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| Travel : £1,910 |
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| Office running costs : £26,440 |
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| Staff : £69,225 |
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| Stationery, postage, IT : £2,261 |
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| Communications allowance : £10,687 |
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| Total : £121,975 |
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| For the last full year, 2008-2009, they are : |
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| ACA : £7,072 |
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| Travel : £1,696 |
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| Office running costs : £12,563 |
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| Staff : £69,482 |
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| Stationery, postage, IT : Total not yet available |
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| Communications allowance : £10,251 |
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| The maximum available for the ACA (second home allowance ) is £24,000. I claim well below that and only claim for unavoidable running expenses, e.g. mortgage interest, service charge, insurance, council tax, and gas, water, electricity and TV licence. The figure for 2007-2008 exceptionally contained payment for a replacement boiler. |
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| I have never claimed for any furniture, decoration or improvement. |
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| I set up these arrangements in the 1992-1997 Parliament when there were frequent all-night sittings (e.g. on the Maastricht Bill). I was also a Minister and had constituency work at weekends.It would not have been possible for me to manage all this if I had had to commute daily (or nightly) to and from Orpington. |
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| Since then the Commons hours have got easier,but there are still regular late nights (i.e. after 10 pm) and having a home both in Orpington and central London works well.I do believe that it puts me in the best position to both serve Orpington residents and do my job in Parliament as effectively as I can. |
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| The expense totals for office costs, staff, stationery etc are all paid directly by the Parliamentary office to the staff or suppliers concerned. |
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