| Angus on Expenses |
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The ongoing expenses scandal involving many Westminster MPs has justifiably angered people the length and breadth of the country. The most recent reports follow the the publication of the audit by Sir Thomas Legg.
I gave a commitment to be totally transparent about developments. Having called for an independent audit of MPs expenses, I am accepting the recommendations of the Legg inquiry into my expenses.
In my case he queried two claims previously accepted by the HoC Finance Department for a sofa-bed and DVD recorder. As reported by the Northern Scot and the Press & Journal; these are items, together with the flat I use in London, which I have pledged not to personally profit from.
Nevertheless, in the circumstances it is right for me to follow his guidance and I will be repaying the recommended amount of £1217.
The Legg Review audited all of my expenses and beyond the above items and a formal request for annual rent/mortgage statements, no further issues were highlighted. Prior to these developments I took part in a meeting of all Westminster Party leaders, where I proposed that the same high standards of transparency currently used at the Scottish Parliament must be introduced in the House of Commons. This was accepted by the other leaders, together with a package of measures that will stop the abuses we have learned about in media reports. A groundbreaking agreement was also reached to end self-regulation of MPs. I regret that this did not happen years ago, however in the past there was not a Parliamentary majority for reform. The record will show that no SNP MP (myself included) 'flipped' their second homes for private gain, charged for mortgages that were paid off, avoided tax or claimed for moats, duck houses or chandeliers. Below you will find my detailed expense ?Additional Cost Allowance? (ACA) claims. They cover the cost of a second home and subsistence in London: ACA 0708 ACA 0607 ACA 0506 ACA 0405 The information that has been blacked out is that relates to personal information such as credit card/debit card numbers, addresses and telephone numbers, or names of staff members or companies. This was necessary in order to safeguard the privacy of others and fulfill obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998. |
