MP's expenses published online
THE House of Commons has published full records of expense claims made by Horncastle and Louth MP Sir Peter Tapsell - but with key details blacked out.
Mr Tapsell claimed £23,084.50 from April 2007 to March 2008 from for mortgage/rent and the upkeep of his second home.
He also claimed £2,591 in the same year for postage such as stamps and envelopes.
The House of Commons released the details of spending under the controversial second home allowance this morning.
But much of the detail which led to public outrage when a national newspaper obtained the information has been blacked out.
MPs' addresses have been obscured on security grounds, as have the names and details of people and companies to whom payments were made.
The practice of 'flipping' – when an MP appeared to have changed their designated second home to maximise claims from the taxpayer – would probably not have come to light using the edited information.
Evidence that some MPs were claiming for a 'phantom mortgage' - payments on home loans that had already been paid off - would also not have come to light.
Full lists can be found at www.parliament.uk.
Comments
by Frank, Bristol (ex-Horncastle)
Thursday, June 18 2009, 9:22PM
“Alleged areas of abuse and fraud :- Claims for the cost of mortgages repaid .Costs of maintaining two residences, one in the constituency and one in London. Nominating second homes: Re-designating second homes:furnishing more than one property. (This practice became widely-known as "flipping"). Renting out homes. Subsidising property development: renovated on expenses and then rapidly sold. Evading Capital Gains tax.Claiming expenses while living in grace and favour homes:Renovating and furnishing properties when already standing down or resigning..Furnishing of other homes: ( MPs were able to claim for items of furniture that were actually delivered elsewhere).”