AM EXPENSES: What they claimed (From South Wales Argus)

AM EXPENSES: What they claimed

7:50pm Sunday 24th May 2009

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THE MP expenses scandal is the talk of the nation since a series of revelations began just over two weeks ago.

Today marks the 17th day of the Telegraph's investigation into second home expenses made by MPs over the last year.

Some of the UK’s most senior MPs were accused of over claiming with the most extravagant claims including clearing a moat, maintaining swimming pools and a £1,645 “duck island”.

But MPs have said they were acting within the rules.

Looking closer to home, the Argus reveales how much our AMs claim in second-home allowance.

Torfaen AM Lynn Neagle has come forward along with her husband Merthyr Tydfil and rhymney AM Huw Lewis and they they are to stop claiming two lots of second-home allowances.

Up until now, the pair who share a second home in Penarth, can claim up to £13,000 a year each.

Nick Ramsay AM refused to reveal his claim for the last financial year.

Liberal Democrat AM Mike german claimed £10,200 for his one-bedroom house in Cardiff.

Assembly Members whose first home is not in Newport East, Newport West, Caerphilly, Cardiff South and Penarth, Cardiff Central, Cardiff West, Pontypridd, Cardiff North or the Vale of Glamorgan can claim up to £13,000 for a second home. This covers items such as furniture, mortgage interest and rent. An Independent Review Panel on Assembly Members’ pay and allowances was established by the National Assembly Commission in August 2008. The Panel is in the process of reviewing the system of pay and allowances for Assembly Members and will report its findings and recommendations in July. The Assembly Commission also plans to start a weblog of all AMs’ expenses which will be updated on a monthly basis. MPs can now receive a second home allowance if they live 20 or more miles from Westminster and last year were allowed to claim up to just over £23,000. New restrictions on MPs’ expenses were outlined by the Commons Speaker Michael Martin on Tuesday after they were agreed on by party leaders. Under these new measures, MPs who are married or live together, will only be entitled to one second home allowance between them. These measures include a ban on claiming the second home allowance for furniture, household goods, gardening and cleaning. MPs are also faced with a £1,250-a-month cap on mortgage interest payments. These measures have been made with immediate effect until a report by Sir Christopher Kelly’s Committee on Standards in Public Life is released.

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