During 2007/8, I employed three full time staff, and one part-time member of staff.  Further details of my staff and the work they do can be found under the 'About Me' section.  In addition, I also paid for an office cleaner and I paid some  expenses of the interns who volunteered in my Westminster office. All payments made to my staff are administered directly by the House of Commons administration, who are the formal employers. 

The total staffing costs for the year were £90,100 - representing the annual total of salaries and employer’s national insurance contributions. 

Constituency Office

In 2007/8, I reclaimed £20,983 to meet the running costs of my constituency office in Leamington Spa.  Here, most of the expenditure is initially incurred by me and then reclaimed on production of receipts.  Some payments within this allowance are administered directly by the House of Commons administration. 

The funding covers the rent and rates for the office, utility costs, communications, some IT equipment, some stationery and printing, photocopying, leases, insurances, waste and recycling and office maintenance and equipment. In addition, some IT equipment (such as computers and printers) is directly provided by the House of Commons administration. 

Postage

Parliament provides MPs with an allowance for pre-printed stationery and pre-paid envelopes. The value issued to each MP each year is capped at £7000.  This stationery is for communication with constituents and cannot be used for political campaigning, such as fundraising and directly soliciting votes.  During 2007/8, I sent 21,900 letters to constituents under this allowance.

Communications Allowance

 In 2007/8, I reclaimed £9,750 under the communications allowance.  All expenditure was incurred by me and reimbursed on production of receipts.  This allowance is tightly controlled by rules set down by the Parliamentary authorities. The allowance is intended to allow an MP to communicate directly with constituents, and cannot be used for party political purposes. I used it to fund the production and distribution of a community survey.  This is still being distributed.  Information from the findings of this survey will be posted on this site later in the year.

London Living Allowance

In 2007/8, I reclaimed £22,375 to meet the costs of staying in London during the week and maintaining my London accommodation. All the expenditure is incurred by me and reclaimed on production of receipts, for items over £250.  This allowance covers the costs of daily subsistence (which I base on £25 a day), the mortgage on my flat (a copy of which is lodged with the Parliamentary authorities), and the fixed costs associated with the flat, such as council tax, insurance, licenses, and service charges.  The allowance also covers the costs of communications, utilities, cleaning, security and household goods and furnishings. I only purchased a few minor items in this last category during 2007/8 - and none from John Lewis!

This allowance is now being reviewed - which I welcome.  Already, the receipts limit has been lowered to £25.  Recommendations for further reform of this allowance are due in the autumn. 

Travel

In 2007/8, I reclaimed £4,816 for travel.  This was almost all for car mileage, representing travel between my home in Leamington and Parliament, and also official travel around the constituency, for which I use my own car.  Mileage is paid at the rate of 40p. 

As a Minister, I often travel by rail and air.  All costs are met directly by the government.  I do not collect any ’air miles’ as a result of this travel.  An official car and driver are provided for my use on ministerial business; this is not available to me for conducting any business solely associated with being a Member of Parliament.