Shropshire Star

Shropshire and Mid Wales MPs' expenses bill totals nearly £1m

The amount claimed by MPs in Shropshire and Mid Wales to cover costs and expenses was nearly £1 million over the last year, new figures have revealed.

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The full list of claims for every MP who was sitting at the time has been released by the parliamentary watchdog Ipsa.

It released the figures as an annual snapshot of the expenses – which include costs such as office rent and paying staff – claimed by the 650 MPs at Westminster.

The overall bill for MPs' expenses and offices rose by 1.6 per cent to nearly £106 million last year, which is considered a slow increase according to Ipsa – the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

Daniel Kawczynski

Accommodation: £22,967.00

Office costs: £15,689.36

Staffing: £134,674.15

Travel: £6,932.95

Total: £180,263.46

Glyn Davies

Accommodation: £20,600.00

Miscellaneous: £114.29

Office costs: £21,308.81

Staffing: £129,351.53

Travel: £12,685.30

Total: £184,059.93

Mark Pritchard

Accommodation: £9,563.59

Office costs: £18,594.63

Staffing: £113,076.57

Travel: £7,442.09

Total: £148,676.88

Owen Paterson

Accommodation: £11,809.86

Office costs: £10,977.88

Staffing: £118,101.95

Travel: £6,032.45

Total: £146,922.14

Philip Dunne

Accommodation: £0

Office costs: £14,049.22

Staffing: £120,049.73

Travel: £1,289.45

Total: £135,388.40

David Wright (Telford's former Labour MP)

Accommodation: £7,800.00

Office costs: £14,046.60

Staffing: £92,194.86

Travel: £5,996.35

Total: £120,037.81

Spending on flats, hotels, travel and subsistence was down about £150,000 at £11.6 million. Staff costs and numbers have increased.

MPs now employ more than 4,000 members of staff – an increase of more than a third on six years ago.

Ipsa reveals that Glyn Davies, who retained his seat in Montgomeryshire at this year's General Election, claimed £184,059.93 between April 2014 and April this year. The figures show he claimed more than £3,000 for stamps and more than £4,000 for stationery.

Mr Davies also claimed nearly £10,000 in fuel for journeys made by himself and his staff in their own vehicles over the course of the year.

Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski, who also regained his seat this year in Shrewsbury and Atcham, claimed a total of £180,263.46, including more than £20,000 on his rented accommodation as well as spending more than £1,000 on parking.

Mark Pritchard, who was re-elected in The Wrekin by a majority of more than 10,000 votes, claimed £148,676.88. His included £2,649.74 on website design and production, more than £1,000 on newspapers and journals and nearly £150 on stamps.

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, also re-elected for the Conservatives in May, claimed a total of £146,922.14. His claims included more than £200 on London congestion zone charges and nearly £5,000 on fuel using his own car.

Philip Dunne, voted back in as MP for Ludlow this year, claimed £135,388.40.

The Defence Minister put in a number of claims for "office costs" including £270 for newspapers and journals, nearly £3,500 on stationery, £1,332 on website design and production and £450 on staff training.

The lowest figure was for David Wright, who lost his seat for Labour in Telford to Tory Lucy Allan. He claimed £120,037.81, although it included nearly £8,000 on hotel stays in London. He claimed £14 for parking.

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