From Derby, For DerbyExpenses

Expenses

Explanation of Expenses

This is a breakdown of all the expenses I have claimed on the Second Home Allowance for the past five years, i.e. since April 2004. I have put every claim in, and each of these claims is supported by receipts. I have detailed where I bought everything.

MPs receive an annual salary of £64,766. We are reimbursed for travel expenses between Westminster and our constituencies. During sitting times, I am in Parliament from Monday morning to Thursday evening. I travel to Derby every Thursday night and work in my Gower Street Constituency Office from Friday morning. When Parliament is not sitting (recess), I work in Derby. I travel mainly by car.

Second Home Allowance

The Second Home Allowance, called the ‘Additional Costs Allowance’ (ACA), is designed to reimburse Members of Parliament for out-of-pocket costs for running a second home. I have only ever had my second home in London and have never ‘flipped’ my claim.

Staffing Costs

I employ one full-time Constituency Office Manager and one full-time Constituency Secretary who work out of my constituency office in Derby. I also employ a full-time researcher in Westminster. I pay them in accordance with House of Commons pay structures.

Office Costs

When I was first elected, one of my key pledges was to open a fully-staffed constituency office. The office is open Monday to Friday so that constituents have a point of contact for their casework and questions. The office is extremely busy and both the Office Manager and Secretary work very hard on my behalf while I am in Westminster.

This means that I claim for office running costs, called ‘Administrative and Office Expenditure’ (formerly known as ‘Incidental Expense Provision’). These claims are for the rent, rates and service charge, electricity, water charges, business rates, insurance, office car parking, BT phone rental for three phone lines, cost of phone calls via the phone co-op, computer consumables, stationary etc.

Communications Allowance

This was an allowance that was introduced in the 2007-2008 financial year and is designed “to assist in the work of communicating with the public on parliamentary business”. The Communications Allowance cannot be used for party political material or electioneering.

I hope that I have covered everything. If you feel that I haven’t, please contact me:

Constituency office: 01332 206699

Westminster office: 020 7219 4096

Email: laxtonb@parliament.uk

Post, Constituency: 1st Floor, Abbots Hill Chambers, Gower Street, Derby, DE1 1SD

Post, Westminster: House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA