I am pleased to welcome the publication of all MPs allowances and claims from 2004 onwards. Talking to constituents, I understand the concern and anger about what allowances MPs have claimed for, and why. Please follow this link for full details of my claims. The parts that have been blacked out by the Parliamentary Authorities are to protect sensitive information such as bank account details, addresses and suppliers and not to hide purchases.
 
The majority of claims I make directly pay for professional staff, office costs, communication with constituents, and travel. I do not have a second job, do not employ any family members or friends nor have I taken the annual increase in Ministerial salary.
 
Below is some information in reply to commonly asked questions which I hope you find useful but if you have any further queries, please don't hesitate to contact me.
 
What costs are covered by Incidental Expenses Provision (IEP)?
The IEP is used to meet the costs of running offices in Lincoln and Westminster, both through miscellaneous or specific headings - including facilities, equipment, supplies and services. I pay rent and service charge for my Lincoln office as well for as telephone and broadband bills, cleaning, and office furniture and equipment. This allowance is also used to purchase general office materials and stationary - such as printer cartridges, pens, stamps, photocopying, printing and paper. The IEP can also be used for other costs relating to my work as an MP, such as room hire for advice surgeries/ meetings, staff training, computer costs, newspapers and journals, travel costs for interns, advertising of contact details, administration fees, professional services etc
I have worked hard to keep down costs in the IEP allowance, by for example, using more second class postage. In the last financial year (2007/08) I was 514th out of 645 MPs.
 
 
What costs are covered by the Additional Costs Allowance (ACA)?
The ACA is used to cover the costs of staying away from your main home. MPs outside London , like myself, have two sets of living costs - on one I cover all of the costs, and on the other , I claim for costs to help with maintaining a second home ( such as mortgage interest, council tax and service charges) the remainder of which I pay myself. My home is in Lincoln and to fulfil my Parliamentary duties I stay in a flat in Westminster. I have previously made claims for furniture, routine maintenance and food (as is standard practice in many public and private sector organisations when staff are working away from home). I have no made no claims in respect of buying a property nor the cost of home improvements nor sold any property to have any liability for capital gains tax.
 
 
What about furniture?
As an MP outside London, I have claimed for a limited number of legitimate household items associated with maintaining a second home . I have not repeated claims for different addresses. The items have included lighting, furniture and kitchenware. I recently supported the introduction of new rules for the second home allowance including -from the beginning of June 2009 - MPs not being allowed to claim for household items including furniture and electrical goods etc.
 
What about maintenance?
I have made claims for necessary maintenance of my second home. This is in accordance with the rules set out by the House of Commons Authorities which allowed claims for maintenance, service agreements, necessary repairs to make good dilapidation etc.
 
What costs are covered by the Communications Allowance?
The Communications Allowance provides funds to allow a Member of Parliament to communicate proactively with constituents and inform them about their work as an MP. I use this allowance to keep constituents up to date with my work in Parliament and Lincoln and to produce surveys and letters on a range of local and national issues.
 
What next?
This has been a damaging period for our political system and I am under no illusion that we have to re-gain the trust of people. I most recently voted for a number of measures to improve transparency and reform the whole system of Allowances including - full declaration where MPs have second jobs - including income and hours worked; receipts for every claim made - with no exemptions; direct employment of staff by the Commons authorities; and a fully independent review of all MPs allowances - taking such matters out of the hands of MPs.

I have also supported new rules introduced this month, which mean that MPs from outside London are now only able to claim for a limited amount of rent, hotel accommodation, or mortgage interest; council tax, service charges and utility bills - whilst any other associated costs for a second home, such as the purchase of electrical and household goods or furniture, are no longer allowable as claims . In addition a ban on changing the designation of main and second homes is now in place, along with a 'clear test of reasonableness' applied to every claim by the House of Commons Authorities.
 
There is also to be independent scrutiny of the claims of every MP.
 
I know there is more to do, but I hope that clarity and limits on what can be claimed will set us on the way to a transparent and open system which reduces costs.