Amess challenges the House on eighties allowances
Conservative MP for Southend West David Amess has challenged the House of Commons Commission over its members’ allowances during the 1980s.
Allowances, like MP expenses, were to cover the costs incurred by members of the Commission whilst carrying out their duties.
Mr Amess wrote to Liberal Democrat Nick Devon of the House of Commons Commission to ask about the nature of these allowances.
He asked: “What allowances were available to honourable Members in each Session since 1983-84; what conditions were imposed on payments made under each such allowance in each Session; and what the maximum amount claimable by an honourable Member under each such allowance was in each Session.”
Mr Harvey declined to give a detailed reply to all of the question, and instead wrote to Mr Amess to direct him to some of the information:
“A number of allowances have been available to Members since 1983-84. Information about these allowances, including the levels Members could claim, is published in regular House of Commons Library Research papers.
“These are available in the Library.
“Allowances have included the additional costs allowance (now personal additional accommodation expenditure), office costs allowance (renamed the incidental expenses provision and then administrative and office expenditure), travel allowances and the communications allowance (now communications expenditure).
“Each allowance has been put in place to assist Members in carrying out their parliamentary duties and was approved by Resolution of the House.
“The conditions relating to each of the allowances have been published in the Green Book, the first edition of which was published in 1987.
“These are available in the Library. Prior to 1987, Members were able to ask for advice from the then Fees Office.
“No records exist of the conditions imposed at this time.”
Mr Amess himself has come under fire in the past few weeks over his own expenses.
He claimed the maximum £400.00 per month for food for four years, but has refused to comment specifically on this matter.
