Parliamentary Expenses 2006-07

The following information provides details of how much it cost in the year 2006/07 to run my offices in Westminster and Winchmore Hill and to do my job as an MP.

Property - I own one property in Southgate. I do not rent or own accommodation in London and I claimed the London supplement of £2,712.

Travel - Most of my travel is by tube between Southgate or Arnos Grove and London. In the Summer I use a pushbike around the constituency, otherwise a car is used and costs are not usually claimed for these modes of transport although in 2006/07 I claimed £18 for tube station car parking charges.

I use taxis to get home from the tube station late at night when no buses are available at a total cost of £319.40 this year.

I made two European trips to Stockholm - £502 and Nicosia - £863 at a total cost of £1,366 which included flights, accommodation and subsistence.

Constituency Office costs - I do not rent office space from anyone with connections to me or my family. Rent for my constituency office has been determined at the open market rate of £7,000.

Constituency office costs in Winchmore Hill include rent, council tax, telephones, electricity, insurance, repair and maintenance, stationery plus the usual office costs.

Staffing - My constituency office is staffed 5 days a week throughout the year, although the office is closed between Christmas and New Year. Occasionally my constituency staff work on Saturdays in the office. Staff also attend my Saturday drop-in surgery at the end of each month.

My Westminster office is staffed from Monday to Friday and again is closed between Christmas and New Year.

All my staff were paid the appropriate Parliamentary rates.

I employed my sister part time in the constituency office as a caseworker and secretary. She worked 15 hours a week and was paid £7,208.29 in 2006/07.

My expenses for 2006/7 are as follows (published 24th October 2007).

*(The rank is in relation to other MPs' expenses):
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