13/09/2013
Paisley Jnr Has Highest Expense Claims
According to new figures, released by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), North Antrim MP Ian Paisley Jnr claimed the most expenses of any MP in the year to April 2013.
The MPs expenses totalled £232,000 and was made up of staffing, travel and accommodation.
The second highest claimer was his colleague, Strangford MP Jim Shannon. His expense claims totalled £220,000.
As a whole, the report also reveals that MPs claimed a total of £2m in personal expenses in the year to April – an increase from the previous year.
Speaking to the Ballymena Times, Mr Paisley Jr said the expenses were "unavoidable".
He said: "The business expenses are unavoidable costs that an MP incurs whilst running a busy constituency office and commuting to parliament.
"I employ four full-time and two part-time staff both in the constituency and parliament whose travel costs are included in mine. None of this money goes to the MP.
"They are legitimate expenses signed off by IPSA and paid directly by the parliament."
(JP/CD)
The MPs expenses totalled £232,000 and was made up of staffing, travel and accommodation.
The second highest claimer was his colleague, Strangford MP Jim Shannon. His expense claims totalled £220,000.
As a whole, the report also reveals that MPs claimed a total of £2m in personal expenses in the year to April – an increase from the previous year.
Speaking to the Ballymena Times, Mr Paisley Jr said the expenses were "unavoidable".
He said: "The business expenses are unavoidable costs that an MP incurs whilst running a busy constituency office and commuting to parliament.
"I employ four full-time and two part-time staff both in the constituency and parliament whose travel costs are included in mine. None of this money goes to the MP.
"They are legitimate expenses signed off by IPSA and paid directly by the parliament."
(JP/CD)
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