News
05 February 2010
NEARLY half of the MPs in the House of Commons - including London MPs - have been ordered to repay money over their expenses.
Sir Thomas Legg's inquiry also found that a "culture of deference" existed, where officials felt obliged to pay the sums requested.
Some 390 MPs have been ordered to repay £1.3million over the second home expenses - and despite payments coming back, around £500,000 is still outstanding to be repaid.
MPs who still have to pay the cash back must do so or make arrangements by February 22.
The repayments made, listed online, include:
Jon Cruddas MP for Dagenham who repaid £176.35 for claiming twice for a printer, £361.52 for a service charge for 2004/05, and £173.84 for claiming twice for an electricity bill.
Barry Gardiner for Brent North has repaid 15,404.07 since April 2009 including money for house purchase costs, work and soft furnishings. The report also noted he was overpaid by £174.17 for mortgage interest in 2005-06.
Jacqui Lait for Beckenham had recommended total repayments of £1041.59 of which £953.92 is still outstanding. The report said she was overpaid by £622.94 for mortgage interest and had not provided enough information to support claims for £418.65..
Robert Neill the MP for Bromley and Chislehurst repaid £283.50 for insurance for his second home and an overpayment in council tax.
Lyn Brown from West Ham, who shared a home with two other MPs, exceeded the maximum that could be claimed for 2007-08 for cleaning costs and paid £134.01 back.
Harry Cohen, the MP for Leyton and Wanstead repaid £933.38 in council tax and household goods.
George Galloway for Bethnal Green and Bow repaid £3,187.28 in mobile phone bills which although allowed if claimed through incidental expenses provision were claimed through additional costs allowance, which was not allowed.
In a small number of cases MPs were unable to submit an appeal to Sir Paul before the December 23 deadline because they had not received the final decisions of the Legg Review in time.
They will be able to appeal.
In addition, Sir Paul Kennedy was asked to look at appeals by 75 MPs on repaying expenses.
His report, also out, says decisions in some circumstances to retrospectively change the rules were "wrong".
Parliament has published expenses claims on searchable databases from August 2008 to June 2009 to make the process more transparent.