MLAs Office Claims Hit Six Figure Sum

Members of the Stormont Assembly have claimed hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers money since 2004, a BBC Northern Ireland investigation has revealed.

Sinn Féin is reported to have claimed the most money in expenses, almost £2m.

The Ulster Unionists were next in line receiving nearly £380,000 while SDLP MLAs took over £250,000 and the DUP claimed £56,000.

Office costs made up the majority of claims, and Sinn Féin were at the top of the ladder claiming the most in secretarial and research services.

A large proportion of office expenses goes on rent and office assistants. The UUP claimed £146,000 on rent according to the BBC.

DUP MLA Diane Dodds claimed £5,000 for secretarial services, compared to SDLP Alex Attwood only claiming £2,400.

Sinn Féin told the BBC that "the cost of the secretarial service is determined by the level of service provided".

MLAs are currently allowed to claim a maximum amount of £72,660 a year.

The standard salary for MLAs is £43,101 each, but extra payments go to Ministers and office holders such as committee chairs.

Expense claims cover a wide range of other areas including: televisions for offices, newspapers, water coolers, vacuum cleaners, stationery and kettles.

Expenses claimed by Westminster MPs are also being re-examined this week, with the latest news being that an MP has paid thousands of pounds in taxpayers money into a company he actually owns.

See: Taxpayer 'Funds' MP's Own Firm

(CD/BMcC)