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Expenses

The table below outlines Mike Hancock's parliamentary expenses since 2001

Note that 2001/2002 is for 10 months and starts in June 2001 when most MPs transferred from the old system based on the Office Costs Allowance that included both office and staff costs to a new system that ring-fenced staff costs.

Notes:

The receipts relating to the expenses from 2004/05 to 2007/08 have been published by the House of Commons and can be accessed from http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/hocallowances/allowances-by-mp/mike-hancock/

Some totals for 2008/2009 have yet to be calculated by the House of Commons - when they are they will be added to the table.

MAXIMUMS: MAX indicates the maximum for a particular area but some flexiblity is allowed between budgets and years. On staffing costs and office costs (IEP), The House of Commons says: "These budgets support Members in undertaking their parliamentary and constituency work. Budget flexibilities ... between these allowances and between years mean that they should be considered together... Members are permitted to transfer funds from the IEP/AOE to the Staffing Allowance. In addition, up to 10% of their Staffing Allowance can be transferred to the IEP/AOE provided they run a constituency office. Members are also allowed to carry forward unused funds in the IEP/AOE and Staffing Allowance from one allowance year to the next or to draw down an advance from the next year's budget. In both cases the Member's allowance limit will be increased or decreased accordingly. The carry forward/draw down facility is only permitted for specific purposes and requires prior approval by the Department of Resources.

MP's travel:. For 2007/2008 the total includes £1,080 for spouse's travel. There was no spouse's travel for 2008/2009.

Centrally Provided Stationery: MPs have use of certain types of stationery such as paper and envelopes provided it is used by them to respond to constituents and carry out their work as laid down in the rules governing its use. From 2007/08, there was a maximum limit put on this.

Other notes:

ACA - Additional Costs Allowance (ACA): This is paid to reimburse MPs for necessary costs incurred when staying overnight away from their main home for the purpose of performing parliamentary duties.

Mike has repaid approximately £2,500 following overpayments from the House of Commons. Mike has made the following statement on mortgage claims that were overpaid by the fees office:  "I share a flat with Bob Russell MP, so our claims amongst lowest and were made in good faith. They were never queried by the Fees Office. Refunds were made instantly and voluntarily. Our efforts for low-cost housing arrangement to minimise the call on public funds is not acknowledged. Unfortunately under-claims were not allowed to be offset against the over claims."

In the initial review MPs who had underpayments for some years and overpayments for other years as was the case with Mike were not allowed to set underpayments against overpayments. However some MPs appealed about this. In most circumstances they were allowed to set the underpayments against the overpayments for the whole five year period and therefore had less to pay back. Mike did not appeal as he believed it was correct to repay what the review asked him for. However if he had appealed it is likely that he would have had significantly less to repay.

IEP - Incidental Expenses Provision (IEP): This is paid to meet the costs of office accommodation (such as rent); equipment, stationery and other supplies; work commissioned or other services and certain travel and communications. Money can be carried over from the previous year's IEP or the next year's provision drawn down on - subject to the approval of the House of Commons' Department for Finance and Administration.

IT - Centrally Provided Computer Equipment: The capital cost of computers are spread over a four-year period.

COE/WEU: Mike is one of 36 cross-party British Parliamentarians who form the British group on Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (which is separate from the European Union) and the Western European Union Assembly (now the European Security and Defence Assembly). As part of this, he attended the following meeting in 2009 with in brackets the associated travel costs which are paid for by the House of Commons.

*Includes £477 of other costs

Mike Hancock News

Liberal Democrat News

Stephen Williams: Give RBS and Lloyds shares to the public

15 May 2012

Commenting, Stephen Williams said:

“This is a very popular idea which would give the public something back for bailing out the banks.

“I welcome the Treasury Select Committee’s review into what to do with the Government’s holding in RBS and Lloyds and hope that it furthers the case for giving the public their share.”

Liberal Democrat Party

My Constituency