Shropshire MPs claimed £110,000 in expenses
Thursday 24th June 2010, 10:14PM BST.
MPs from Shropshire and Mid-Wales claimed more than £110,000 in expenses during the last six months of 2009, according to new figures published by Parliament.
They made a total of 353 claims for a range of different services which range from 24p for stationery to claims of several thousands of pounds for deliveries of what is described as “communications expenditure”.
Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard, Telford MP David Wright, Ludlow MP Philip Dunne, North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski and former Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik’s claims were published online today.
A number of MPs claimed money for a variety of services, with Mr Opik receiving £3,000 for a delivery charge to himself and Mr Wright receiving £300 in lieu of accountancy services.
The highest claimant was Mark Pritchard, who received £27,910.94 and made 84 separate claims including eight in excess of £1,000 of which six were for £1,115.28 in mortgage interest.
The two other claims of more than £1,000 were for £5,033.57 and £4,172.50 on November 19 for publications, printing and mailing services.
MP for Telford David Wright claimed a total of £22,327.50, with the largest single claim made in November.
The claim for £6,375 was to the West Midlands Labour Party for communications expenditure.
He also submitted six claims in excess of £1,000 to cover accommodation away from home, together with one claim for £1,700 to the West Midlands Labour Party to cover mailouts.
In July last year a claim of £543.38 was submitted for newsletter printing.
North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson claimed £22,721.93.
He made nine claims for amounts in excess of £1,000, with six of those being for mortgage interest with amounts varying between £1,218.90 and £1,000.
The three other £1,000-plus amounts were for delivery services, research and printing. Mr Paterson’s smallest claim was for £10.15, paid for stationery.
Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski claimed £18,595.58.
He made three claims for amounts in excess of £1,000, with the largest amount being for £5,980 paid for office rent.
The two other £1,000-plus claims were made for £2,080.65 to Shrewsbury and Atcham Conservative Association for non-domestic rates and for £1,649.77 to Royal Mail Group PLC for a door-to-door delivery.
Mr Kawczynski’s smallest claim was for £2.16 for a staff reimbursement for postage.
Ludlow MP Philip Dunne claimed £9,358.05 in expenses.
He submitted three claims that were in excess of £1,000, two of which were for printing, with amounts totalling £2,590 and £2,675.
The third was for £1,150 for secretarial and administrative services.
Former Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik claimed £10,940.96.
Mr Opik’s largest single claim was £3,000 and was one of four claims of more than £1,000 made with another postage claim being made for a door-to-door delivery of £1,105.41.
The other £1,000-plus claims were made for leaflet printing and £1,634 for mortgage interest.
By Andy Richardson and Tracey O’Sullivan
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