Expenses row over MPs' second homes

12 April 2012

The MPs' expenses row took a new twist as it was disclosed that some were using the system to claim on both of their homes out of their taxpayer-funded allowances.

As well as claiming back the costs of buying and improving second homes, MPs have been able to draw down expenses on their main residence by designating it as an office.

The Sunday Telegraph named disgraced MP Derek Conway among those taking advantage by saying he worked from his family home - a property hundreds of miles from his constituency.

Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce also claimed thousands of pounds towards the cost of running both his London flat and his Scottish main home, the newspaper said.

While the focus of the revelations has so far been on the Additional Costs Allowance (ACA) for second homes, the Telegraph's latest revelations concerned claims from their Incidental Expenses Provision (IEP), which is to cover office costs. They also prompted new interest in the controversial practice of MPs' employing family members out of the staffing budget.

Mr Bruce's claims were made possible because his wife, Rosemary, is his office manager and works from their home in Deeside, north-east Scotland. He was therefore apparently able to claim more than £3,000 from the IEP in electricity, heating and cleaning at their Scottish home, while also receiving £61,186 from the ACA for his London home.

Mr Bruce, the Lib Dems' Scottish president, had another constituency office about 30 minutes away from the Scottish residence, the Telegraph said.

More than 200 MPs have declared in the Register of Members' Interests that they employ relatives at an estimated cost to the taxpayer of about £5.8 million a year.

The requirement to declare such arrangements was introduced last year after Mr Conway was found to have overpaid his son for research work he was supposed to have done. The MP had the Tory whip withdrawn and was suspended from the Commons for 10 days.

The Telegraph reported Mr Conway claimed office expenses on his family house in Northumberland even though it is 330 miles from his Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency in south-east London.

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