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Fleet MP told to repay more than £12,000
October 15, 2009
BILLS for swimming pool cleaning, a barbecue, a summerhouse, gardening and mortgage interest claimed by the area’s MPs on expenses will have to be returned to the taxpayer, it was revealed this week.
MPs representing people across the News & Mail area have received letters from Sir Thomas Legg, who has been investigating their expense claims over the summer.
All but one have agreed to disclose the items they were being asked to repay.
Gerald Howarth, MP for Aldershot, Farnborough and Yateley, initially refused to discuss the contents of his letter but later issued a statement detailing the demands.
Another, Fleet MP James Arbuthnot, disclosed the details and said he had offered to repay £1,000 more than has been requested.
Camberley and Ash MP Michael Gove, who has already paid back £7,000 for furniture and a hotel stay, was told no further action was needed, while Farnham MP Jeremy Hunt was asked for ‘further information’.
Sandhurst and Crowthorne MP Andrew MacKay, who is standing down at the next general election after claiming for a second home, despite not living in his constituency, refused to comment on his letter.
In a statement, Gerald Howarth said he had been asked to repay £284 for furniture and a barbecue, which he had already agreed to do.
He was also asked to repay £894 of a £1,894 gardening bill in 2004/5, which was above the retrospective £1,000 annual limit.
Mr Howarth said he had accidentally claimed the £1,242 interest on his mortgage twice for April 2007 but had spotted the error himself and repaid it six months later.
“Sir Thomas has also requested clarification on my mortgage, which I shall provide,” Mr Howarth said.
Mr Arbuthnot has been asked to repay £12,241 but said he proposed to pay back almost £13,486.
He claimed £10,840 for gardening during a five-year period, exceeding the retrospective £1,000 yearly limit set by Sir Thomas, so he will repay £5,840.
The MP claimed £2,608 in 2007/8 and £6,630 in 2008/9 for cleaning, exceeding the £2,000 yearly limit, so additionally will pay back £5,238.
He is also proposing to repay £16.75 for swimming pool maintenance, £150 for 25 bags of Pro-Grow compost and £2,241 towards the repair of a summerhouse.
However, Mr Arbuthnot has already repaid £10,106 so has promised to repay the outstanding sum of £3,380 as soon as the provisional recommendations become final.
In a covering letter to Sir Thomas, Mr Arbuthnot said: “I have consistently supported efforts to ensure the expenses system is replaced with procedures which are fair, honest and transparent.”
Surrey Heath MP Michael Gove said he had been given a clean bill of health.
He said: “Sir Thomas said I had complied with all the regulations and that there was no requirement to pay anything back as there was no breach.
“I am grateful to Sir Thomas and I think that all MPs should comply with his findings.”
Earlier this year Mr Gove, the shadow education minister, paid back £7,000 of taxpayers’ money he had spent furnishing his second home.
The 42-year-old bought luxury items for his London home, including furniture from the Oka shop, founded by David Cameron’s mother-in-law, Lady Annabel Astor.
Mr MacKay said: “These are preliminary findings so most of us are not commenting until they have been finalised.”
The MP is standing down at the next general election following revelations about his expenses.
Mr MacKay and his wife, Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride, had been claiming close to the maximum amount on allowances on their two homes, neither of which were in the Bracknell constituency.
Mr Hunt was asked to provide more details about his mortgage claims.
The shadow culture secretary over-claimed £1,295 by making “clerical errors” such as charging twice for one £659.75 stationery bill but said he has repaid all the cash.
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Most recent user comments 3 of 3
20/10/2009 at 15:16 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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he had been asked to repay £284 for furniture and a barbecue, which he had already agreed to do. - did he think a barbeque was a valid business expense claim?
He was also asked to repay £894 of a £1,894 gardening bill in 2004/5, which was above the retrospective £1,000 annual limit. - how large is his garden? Have receipts been seen by Sir Legg? - I doubt it Why can't he and wife do the garden like other middle class couples? Mr Howarth said he had accidentally claimed the £1,242 interest on his mortgage twice for April 2007 but had spotted the error himself and repaid it six months later." - I can sympathise with this as I often accidently pay a similar amount too much on my mortgage and never notice for ages
A tip of the iceberg. Sir Legg hasn't even looked at the potential abuses of office and research staff expenses.
Election next year though. I expect Howarth will stand down to avoid embarrassment to the party.
18/10/2009 at 00:47 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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Gerald Howarth http://parliament.telegraph.co.uk/mpsexpenses/expenses/Gerald-Howarth/mp-10293
you can look up others, All this money is great for these MP that are suppose to work for the general public, I know I won't be voting for the tories - maybe looking at the outside political parties as they cannot do any worse than the tories or the labour.
17/10/2009 at 23:07 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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