Wyre MP's expense details...in full
WYRE MP Ben Wallace has become the first MP to voluntarily rerveal his full expense details.
Mr Wallace's allowances - which amount to almost £3,000 a week - include more than £19,500 rent on his London flat, and bills for stationery, office furniture, hotels, phone calls and taxis.
Mr Wallace also claimed £78,679 in salaries for staff, which include his wife Liza and a personal assistant at his Westminster office.
Mrs Wallace works as a researcher 17 hours a week from their home near Lancaster or when in London. She earns somewhere between £10,000 and £20,000.
The announcement comes after MPs came under scrutiny to tighten the regulation of their expenses and use of allowances.
Mr Wallace is a former member of the Scottish parliament, where full publication of expenses claims is already mandatory.
He told The Courier he was the first MP in the country to voluntarily declare such details.
"The details are incredibly transparent. There is nothing exciting in them.I have been more open than any MP in the country."
He said his decision to publish the details had been met with raised eyebrows among some of his colleagues in the Commons.
"The old and the bold do not make it easy for you" he said.
Most of his budget for a second home, known as the additional costs allowance, went on renting a flat in Clapham, south west London, which cost almost £22,000 in rent, council tax, water and electricity.
Mr Wallace said: "Transparency is the only way forward for us if we are to start rebuilding trust between the electorate and ourselves," he said.
"I don't want to spend my political life in the shadow of innuendo.
"I am very happy for people to find out whatever they want, and the only way to solve these problems is to have complete transparency. It's what the taxpayer expects and I have nothing to hide so I felt it was the right thing to do.
"This is not top-secret stuff. I am sure some will say that I spent too much or too little on one thing or another, but the point is that it's all here in the open.
"I have had emails from all over Britain in support of what I've done, and some of my colleagues have also been very supportive."
Mr Wallace receives an annual MP's salary of £60,675 in addition to his allowances.
He said he was not permitted under data protection rules to reveal exact details of the salaries of his staff, including the salary details of wife Liza.
He said before he met his wife she had been a full time parliamentary researcher in the House of Commons, and she was now working for him part-time.
EXPENSES CLAIMS IN FULL
2006/07 (ranking out of 645) - 2005/06
Additional Costs Allowance - £22,110 (joint 1st) - £21,633
London Supplement - £0 - £0
Incidental Expenses Provision - £32,426 (2nd) - £24,624
Staffing Allowance - £78,679 (482nd) - £66,066
Members' Travel - £14,343 (82nd)* - £12,679
Members' Staff Travel - £340 (261st) - £482
Centrally Purchased Stationery - £789 (366th) - £1,074
Stationery: Associated Postage Costs - £2,398 (354th) - £3,918
Centrally Provided Computer Equipment - £1,166 (joint 151st) - £1,166
Other Costs - £0 - £0
Total - £152,251 (67th) - £131,642
* Car £5,457 (113th); Rail £8,215 (63rd); Air £671 (134th)
INCIDENTAL EXPENSES PROVISION
15-Apr-06 £54.05 mobile telephone (direct payment)
18-Apr-06 £402.00 website (direct payment)
18-Apr-06 £30.00 St. John's Church - surgery venue (direct payment)
21-Apr-06 £11.80 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
21-Apr-06 £1.00 parking (Member's reimbursement)
22-Apr-06 £152.75 Siemens Financial Services LTD Quarterly - rental of photocopier (direct payment)
24-Apr-06 £18 Trinity Community Centre - surgery venue (direct payment)
25-Apr-06 £217.50 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
25-Apr-06 £1.00 parking (Member's reimbursement)
27-Apr-06 £250 Newspapers, periodicals - cash reimbursement
04-May-06 £52.36 Lancashire Evening Post - surgery advert (direct payment)
08-May-06 £30.55 Forsythe & Steele - advert giving contact details (direct payment)
09-May-06 £19.50 newspapers (Member's reimbursement)
09-May-06 £5.70 postage (Member's reimbursement)
09-May-06 £99.99 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
09-May-06 £113.99 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
09-May-06 £16.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
10-May-06 £289.37 Business Service and Supplies (direct payment)
10-May-06 £57.63 BT (direct payment)
15-May-06 £350 Thornton Community News (direct payment)
15-May-06 £54.05 mobile telephone (direct payment)
16-May-06 £250 petty cash (Member's reimbursement)
16-May-06 £79.99 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
18-May-06 £9.50 Wyre Borough Council - surgery venue (direct payment)
18-May-06 £134.84 Banner (direct payment)*
18-May-06 £100.66 Banner (direct payment)
May £14.65 Postage (staff reimbursement)
05-Jun-06 £1,666.85 Royal Mail - newsletter distribution (direct payment)
05-Jun-06 £185.89 Business Service and Supplies (direct payment)
14-Jun-06 £54.05 mobile telephone (direct payment)
20-Jun-06 £239.92 bt broadband (Member's reimbursement)
21-Jun-06 £63.47 Siemens Financial Services LTD Quarterly - rental of photocopier (direct payment)
21-Jun-06 £11 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
21-Jun-06 £60 Car hire / taxi (Member's reimbursement)
21-Jun-06 £16 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
21-Jun-06 £13 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
21-Jun-06 £19.50 newspapers (Member's reimbursement)
21-Jun-06 £25.60 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
21-Jun-06 £13.50 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
21-Jun-06 £100.90 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
22-Jun-06 £1,972.83 Page Fast - newsletter printing (direct payment)
27-Jun-06 £250.00 Travel Insurance - (Cash reimbursment)
27-Jun-06 £29.99 BT broadband (Member's reimbursement)
13-Jul-06 £54.05 mobile telephone (direct payment)
17-Jul-06 £10 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
17-Jul-06 £8.99 books (Member's reimbursement)
17-Jul-06 £237.13 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
17-Jul-06 £16.53 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
20-Jul-06 £152.75 Siemens Financial Services LTD Quarterly - rental of photocopier (direct payment)
24-Jul-06 £115.15 Banner (direct payment)
25-Jul-06 £91.21 Banner (direct payment)
25-Jul-06 £156.28 Niki Gorick stationery (direct payment)
25-Jul-06 £18.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
25-Jul-06 £15.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
27-Jul-06 £44.06 Banner (direct payment)
July £5,587.13 Copier and Folder Inserter (direct payment)
02-Aug-06 £14.69 Banner (direct payment)
07-Aug-06 £45.00 Trinity Community Centre - surgery venue (direct payment)
10-Aug-06 £48.35 BT (direct payment)
10-Aug-06 £10.91 Banner (direct payment)
12-Aug-06 £250.00 petty cash (Member's reimbursement)
22-Aug-06 £1.90 postage (Member's reimbursement)
22-Aug-06 £10.14 newspapers (Member's reimbursement)
22-Aug-06 £115.27 bt broadband (Member's reimbursement)
29-Aug-06 £103.75 Banner (direct payment)
29-Aug-06 £528.28 Banner (direct payment)
29-Aug-06 £75.41 Banner (direct payment)
30-Aug-06 £117.12 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
30-Aug-06 £39.75 anti-virus software - symantec (58.98 euros) (Member's reimbursement)
01-Sep-06 £70.50 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
07-Sep-06 £103.35 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
07-Sep-06 £100.97 2 printer cartridges @ £37.99 and shredder £24.99 (Member's reimbursement)
07-Sep-06 £412.22 Adobe Professional Software purchased through Amazon (Member's reimbursement)
13-Sep-06 £18.94 Banner (direct payment)
18-Sep-06 £2.70 parking (member reimbursement)
18-Sep-06 £65.45 Johnston Publishing - advert giving contact details (direct payment)
21-Sep-06 £11.68 postage and paper (member reimbursement)
22-Sep-06 £368.97 CF Asset Finance Limited Quarterly - risograph rental costs (direct payment)
09-Oct-06 £13.50 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
09-Oct-06 £5.41 postage (Member's reimbursement)
09-Oct-06 £30.55 Forsythe & Steele - advert giving contact details (direct payment)
10-Oct-06 £176.02 staff calls (staff reimbursement)
10-Oct-06 £104.53 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
10-Oct-06 £5.50 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
10-Oct-06 £8.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
12-Oct-06 £250.00 Office maintenance (Cash reimbursement)
12-Oct-06 £66.00 parking (Member's reimbursement)
12-Oct-06 £1.70 postage (Member's reimbursement)
12-Oct-06 £8.74 postage (Member's reimbursement)
24-Oct-06 £11.75 image for website obtained from House of Commons
25-Oct-06 £18.62 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
25-Oct-06 £11.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
02-Nov-06 £4.10 postage (Member's reimbursement)
02-Nov-06 £86.20 staff calls (staff reimbursement)
02-Nov-06 £6.95 Postage
06-Nov-06 £30.00 St. John's Church - surgery venue (direct payment)
07-Nov-06 £20.19 newspapers (Member's reimbursement)
07-Nov-06 £9.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
07-Nov-06 £10.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
15-Nov-06 £350.00 Thornton Community News (direct payment)
17-Nov-06 £9.00 Wyre Borough Council - surgery venue (direct payment)
17-Nov-06 £48.35 BT (direct payment)
17-Nov-06 £12.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
17-Nov-06 £11.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
17-Nov-06 £15.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
17-Nov-06 £10.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
22-Nov-06 £79.94 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
24-Nov-06 £13.50 Trinity Community Centre - surgery venue (direct payment)
29-Nov-06 £89.96 BT broadband (Member's reimbursement)
29-Nov-06 £41.63 BT broadband (Member's reimbursement)
29-Nov-06 £96.48 BT broadband (Member's reimbursement)
04-Dec-06 £15.28 Forsythe & Steele - advert giving contact details (direct payment)
06-Dec-06 £500.00 parking, subscriptions, legal services and newspapers last six months (Cash Reimbursement)
06-Dec-06 £18.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
06-Dec-06 £23.00 postage (Member's reimbursement)
06-Dec-06 £42.12 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
06-Dec-06 £12.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
06-Dec-06 £185.68 postage (Member's reimbursement)
14-Dec-06 £97.90 BT
14-Dec-06 £109.20 BT
15-Dec-06 £149.39 Banner (direct payment)
15-Dec-06 £157.45 Dell- printer cartridges (direct payment)
18-Dec-06 £368.97 CF Asset Finance Limited Quarterly - risograph rental costs (direct payment)
18-Dec-06 £58.05 staff calls (staff reimbursement)
09-Jan-07 £123.38 Banner (direct payment)
10-Jan-07 £57.20 newspapers (Member's reimbursement)
10-Jan-07 £1,066.30 john lewis office furniture (Member's reimbursement)
10-Jan-07 £96.58 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
15-Jan-07 £35.99 postage (Member's reimbursement)
15-Jan-07 £29.98 pc world - cables (Member's reimbursement)
15-Jan-07 £32.00 postage (Member's reimbursement)
15-Jan-07 £130.00 Great Eccleston Village Centre (direct payment)**
15-Jan-07 £390.00 Great Eccleston Village Centre (direct payment)
23-Jan-07 £12.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
23-Jan-07 £20.69 postage (Member's reimbursement)
23-Jan-07 £22.38 newspapers (Member's reimbursement)
23-Jan-07 £59.97 PC World 3 print cartridges @ £19.99 (Member's reimbursement)
23-Jan-07 £116.60 BT broadband (Member's reimbursement)
23-Jan-07 £223.08 Royal Mail newsletter distribution (direct payment)
29-Jan-07 £13.50 Trinity Community Centre - surgery venue (direct payment)
30-Jan-07 £65.44 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
30-Jan-07 £9.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
31-Jan-07 £51.95 Banner (direct payment)
05-Feb-07 £15.28 Forsythe & Steele - advert giving contact details (direct payment)
06-Feb-07 £228.46 Royal Mail newsletter distribution (direct payment)
08-Feb-07 £104.94 Comet phone @ £89.95 and Mons 124792 (printer cartridge?) £14.99 (Member's reimbursement)
08-Feb-07 £12.40 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
08-Feb-07 £15.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
08-Feb-07 £11.99 phil pfg519 comet (Member's reimbursement)
08-Feb-07 £30.35 newspapers (Member's reimbursement)
09-Feb-07 £1,625.00 Constituency Office Rent (direct payment)
12-Feb-07 £225.14 Royal Mail newsletter distribution (direct payment)
14-Feb-07 £150.00 BT broadband (Member's reimbursement)
17-Feb-07 £300.00 website
02-Mar-07 £15.28 Forsythe & Steele - advert giving contact details (direct payment)
06-Mar-07 £16.50 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
06-Mar-07 £71.04 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
06-Mar-07 £5.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
06-Mar-07 £10.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
06-Mar-07 £65.00 telephone calls from USA while away with a Cross Party Group of MPs (Member's reimbursement)
06-Mar-07 £40.72 newspapers (Member's reimbursement)
07-Mar-07 £240.41 Business Service and Supplies (direct payment)
07-Mar-07 £123.22 Iris scanner (Member's reimbursement)
£289.91 o2 (Member's reimbursement)
08-Mar-07 £40.38 newspapers (direct payment)
09-Mar-07 £2,590.88 website design (direct payment)
09-Mar-07 £81.07 Orbit Satellite Installations - tv aerial installation (direct payment)
£225.00 paper and print cartridges and desk trays (Member's reimbursement)
£500.00 Monitor PC World Lancaster (Cash reimbursment)
12-Mar-07 £9.40 surgery venue hire
20-Mar-07 £368.97 CF Asset Finance Limited Quarterly - risograph rental costs (direct payment)
20-Mar-07 £1,625.00 Constituency Office Rent (direct payment)
£1,900.00 Personnel tax liability for Office Equipment
£250.00 Overnight Northern Ireland
£15.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
£28.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
£10.00 taxi (Member's reimbursement)
30-Mar-07 £30.55 Forsythe & Steele - advert giving contact details (direct payment)
04-Apr-07 £71.06 Newsquest (direct payment)
04-Apr-07 £37.56 Banner (direct payment)
04-Apr-07 £10.87 Banner (direct payment)
04-Apr-07 £2.29 Banner (direct payment)
The full article contains 2259 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
13 February 2008 12:44 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Garstang