28/10/05 - Labour MPs Expenses Are Published

Expenses notched up by two Swindon Labour MPs cost the taxpayer almost £240,000.

Swindon North MP Michael Wills claimed £117,622 ­ up by £5,622 on last year.

Former Swindon South MP Julia Drown ­ who stood down before the May general election ­ claimed £122,358, up £7,464 on her 2003/04 claim.

Those figures do not include their annual MP salary of more than £50,000, or their generous pension rights.

The biggest increase in Mr Wills' expenses was staff costs ­ which jumped by £9,000 to £77,813.

His additional cost allowance also increased from £14,407 to £16,948.

This money is used to pay for renting, paying off mortgages interest on second homes in London or hotel bills.

Retired Swindon South MP Julia Drown's additional cost allowance increased by £2,189, postage by £1,418 and staff costs by £1,720.

Mr Wills and Ms Drown claimed a total of £239,980 between them in allowances.

All expenses were paid in-line with parliamentary rules, which allow funds for back-up staff, offices, travel costs, London housing and stationary. The money is in addition to the basic £59,000 annual MP salary and is not part of their pay package.

They also get a pension of up to 1/40th of their final salary for each year they pay in ­ twice as much as many schemes.