Chancellor’s expenses claims were among Cheshire’s lowest (From Knutsford Guardian)

Chancellor’s expenses claims were among Cheshire’s lowest

12:10pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News By James Wilson

KNUTSFORD’S MP has claimed one of the lowest amounts in expenses among his Cheshire peers in the last year.

The question of how much MPs cost the taxpayer was brought to the front of voters’ minds by the 2009 expenses scandal.

Since then The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) has overhauled and overseen the claims system.

The claims are on top of their salaries, as MPs receive a basic £65,738, with more for ministers.

IPSA said last year’s claims in total were higher in part because they covered a House of Commons session that was six weeks longer – the General Election period the previous year saw no expenses accrued.

Chancellor George Osborne, MP for Tatton, claimed £111,688 in 2011/12.

That figure included £1,416.20 for travel and subsistence, £3,163.13 for his constituency office, £1,175.23 for general administration costs and £3,960 for staff expenses.

The majority of his claim was taken up by his payroll, which cost £101,973.69.

Fiona Bruce, who is the MP for Holmes Chapel, Cranage and Goostrey, saw her Parliamentary expenses for the 2011/12 period total £133,597.

This included £103,063 in payroll costs, £17,328 for the constituency office, £9,537 for travel and subsistence, £3,002 for accommodation, £115 for constituency rental and £550 admin costs.

Eddisbury MP Stephen O’Brien claimed a total of £120,689, Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson’s expenses totalled £136,237 and Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans’ totalled £161,546.

The only MP whose figure was lower than Mr Osborne in Cheshire was City of Chester’s Stephen Mosley, who claimed £103,859.50.

Mrs Bruce told the Guardian: “I treat my commitment to the constituents I represent as a priority, which means a large volume of correspondence and other connected expenses.

“However, having run a small business, I am always looking for the most economic way to keep my expenses down since after all this is taxpayers’ money.”

Full details of MPs’ expenses are available at parliamentarystandards.org.uk/Pages/default.aspx.