NEW FIGURES SHOW YEOVIL’S MP A LOW SPENDER ON PERSONAL EXPENSES

The figures show the costs incurred for maintaining a second home to allow MPs to work in London for part of the week. The figures released today are for 2008/09 and the first quarter of 2009/10 – however David Laws has already published these figures for his own spending, some of them fully 6 months ago.

However, the new figures allow David’s spending to be compared with that of other South West MPs – David has one of the lowest spending figures in South West England. In 2008/09 David spent £15,962 on London living costs, from a budget of £24,006.

David’s main home is near Chard, in his constituency. He rents a home in London and has never claimed for mortgage interest.

David was told last week by Sir Thomas Legg that, following an inquiry into the expenses of all MPs, David is one of the MPs who will NOT have to pay back any money, as David’s claims are all in order.

 

David Laws MP said:

“Today Parliament publishes figures on MPs expenses, but I have already published this information for my own situation many months ago.

“I am pleased that the figures show that when it comes to my London living costs I am one of the lowest claiming MPs in the South West.

“Active MPs will incur staff and office costs, and this is unavoidable. But when it comes to our own expenses, we need to be very prudent.

“I will continue to regularly publish my expenses, in advance of Parliament’s own release dates, and in January I will once again become the first MP to publish my full expenses for the latest quarter.

“I am pleased that Sir Thomas Legg has given me a clean bill of health, and told me that all my expense claims are in order.”