The Five Demands

Traduci l’articolo…

DUP release expenses repayments (U TV)
The DUP’s MPs have been asked to repay £14,000 in expenses.
The party published full details of Sir Thomas Legg’s recommendations regarding the party’s expense claims.
First Minister Peter Robinson has issued a statement detailing the expenses claims the DUP have been asked to repay. In a statement released on Tuesday evening Peter Robinson said,
“My colleagues and I have received our letters from Sir Thomas Legg in relation to their expenses over a five year period. I have made it clear that there should be no equivocation or quibbling over any repayment and that all payments should be made immediately. Where there are genuine disputes about his provisional conclusions these can be followed up but we will accept entirely Sir Thomas Legg’s final determination.
As far as my own expenses are concerned, despite the press hullabaloo previously, Sir Thomas has only raised a question about £299 over a five year period, in relation to a variation of mortgage interest payments. I believe his provisional conclusion on this matter is flawed but I will abide by the way set out and payment will be made and I will follow up this disputed element with Sir Thomas.”
The details of other party members have also been released:
Dr. William McCrea – recommended repayment £5,329
Mr McCrea said, “The first and major item is in respect to furniture. Sir Thomas is questioning the differential between purchase prices and guideline prices. However, to remove all ambiguity I am repaying the total price and the furniture belongs to me without any public interest. The second relates to duplicated maintenance/service charges and the third relates to a duplicated allowance for TV Licence. In line with the Party’s position I will be repaying the £5329.”
David Simpson – recommended repayment £400 in respect of food claim
Mr Simpson said “I believe this is the same item that I have already repaid due to an error on the part of the Fees Office, and I am questioning the accuracy of the recommendation. However in line with the Party’s position I will be repaying the £400 in the meantime.
In common with other MPs I have been asked to provide mortgage interest statements and I have no difficulty in doing so.”
Gregory Campbell – recommended repayment £2,656
Mr Campbell said, “This relates to four items, the first relating to accommodation which exceeded the maximum allowable, the second concerns a service charge for which there was an overpayment, the other two relating to overpayment on ground rent. In line with the Party’s position I will be repaying the £2656.”
Jeffrey Donaldson – recommended repayment £1,964.
Mr Donaldson said, “This covers three items, the first relates to accommodation costs which exceeded the maximum allowed. I am questioning this finding. The second relates to mobile phone costs which are allowable and were claimed with Fees Office approval under the Additional Costs Allowance due to the fact most of the costs were incurred in London. However, Sir Thomas has concluded these should be claimed under the Office Costs Allowance and I will arrange for the amount to be transferred to that allowance. The third matter relates to a service charge on my London accommodation which was overpaid. Whilst I believe these provisional conclusions to be inaccurate, however in line with the Party’s position I will be repaying the £1964 in the meantime.”
Iris Robinson – recommended repayment £2,274.
Mrs Robinson said, “This amount relates to three items all of which I am questioning. One relates to the only item of furniture where I believe Sir Thomas has not properly applied the guidelines, one is the identical issue in respect of Peter Robinson and the remaining item was for a service charge which was duplicated but which we believe the amount paid simply reduced a subsequent bill. However in line with the Party’s position I will be repaying the £2274 in the meantime.”
Dr. Ian Paisley – recommended repayment £1,181
Dr. Paisley said. “This amount relates to a payment made by the Fees office during dissolution, which they had not drawn to my attention before. Now that it has, in line with the Party’s position, I will be repaying this amount.”
In conclusion Mr Robinson said, “We have been forthcoming about the recommendations from Sir Thomas as they relate to every member of our Parliamentary Party in spite of the fact that these are only provisional recommendations. We expect the same openness from every other party.”