Bristol MPs must return thousands of pounds in expenses

By smellen

Thousands of pounds will be paid back to parliament by the Bristol region's MPs after an independent auditor examined every expense claim they made in the last five years.

Recycling minister Dan Norris, who represents the Wansdyke ward which includes Keynsham and Midsomer Norton, expects to be told he must hand over more than £1,700 for cleaning costs he billed the Commons for, while Labour backbencher Roger Berry, the Kingswood MP, was told to repay £1,237 on claims he made for four household items.

It follows a review by former civil servant Sir Thomas Legg who was asked to re-examine every submission made since 2004 and decide on overpayments.

He imposed a retrospective limit on cleaning and gardening bills for the period and also uncovered any minor and major misdemeanours before writing to all 646 MPs setting out what, if anything, they should pay back.

Sir Thomas found the Commons Fees Office had passed claims for goods by Mr Berry that cost more than the guide price used to judge submissions, dubbed the "John Lewis" list.

MPs were unaware of the existence of the list so would submit receipts and officials would then decide whether payment should be granted or not.

Sir Thomas has asked the Kingswood MP to pay back any money he received that was over the guide price.

He claimed for two bedside cabinets costing £251 each when the John Lewis limit was £110 and a lamp table at £499 – £279 more than the recommended cost. His £574 dishwasher was £159 above the John Lewis list and a £1,000 washer/dryer almost double the limit.

Mr Berry said: "There was no criticism of my claims.

"In four cases the Fees Office had approved payments above the guideline John Lewis list price.

"If the Fees Office has made an error in my favour then I will put it right straight away.

"If MPs had know what the guideline prices were then I would have spotted this straight away. I had no idea what the guideline price was and I expected the Fees Office to amend the figure if it was too high.

"I think the system is quite mad. I had faith that the Fees Office would put it right.

"I'm glad that Sir Christopher Kelly is reviewing the whole system. I hope the new system works a darn sight better than this chaotic one."

Mr Norris, MP for Wansdyke, said: "I haven't received my letter yet and won't be able to pick it up today.

"I'm expecting to be asked to pay back money for cleaning. Sir Thomas set a £2,000 limit and my bills were higher than that.

"My claims have been on my website available for anyone to see for 18 months."

Children's Minister Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, said: "I am pleased that Sir Thomas Legg has found that my claims were made within the spirit of the rules. He has sought clarification from me over one month's council tax claim.

"I am in the process of checking my records and, should I have inadvertently overclaimed this sum I will, of course, pay it back straight away. Sir Thomas has also asked me to provide some further clarification with regards to my mortgage.

"I will, of course, co-operate fully with Sir Thomas over any questions he has."

Shadow business minister weston-conservatives.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">John Penrose, MP for Weston-super-Mare, said: "They are not asking me for any money."

Doug Naysmith, retiring MP for Bristol North West, said: "There is no suggestion I should pay any money back. Sir Thomas wants to see my rental agreement for 2006 but that is it."

Lib Dems Stephen Williams, spokesman on higher education, and Steve Webb, work and pensions spokesman, will not have to pay anything back.

Mr Williams, Bristol West MP, said: "They have asked for evidence that my rent has been paid so that is simply a case of providing a bank statement showing the standing order.

"I have a little sympathy for those MPs who have been hit by retrospective limits.

"However, MPs don't need a gardener to perform their duties. If they can't be bothered to clip their own rose bushes I don't see why the taxpayer should have to pick up the bill."

Mr Webb, Northavon MP, said: "I have not been asked to pay anything back or clarify anything. It is right that this has all been looked at independently."

Labour whip Kerry McCarthy, Bristol East MP, has not been asked to pay anything back.

She said: "I'm very pleased that Sir Thomas Legg has confirmed that my parliamentary allowances were above board and in order.

"I think questions need to be asked about the way the Fees Offices has administered claims in the past and am glad a stricter, more independent regime is being introduced."

A spokeswoman for Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said he had not seen his letter and was not available for comment.