Transparency

Staffing allowance

I am allowed approximately £195,000 a year (on the current exchange rate with the Euro) to be spent on assisting me in my duties.

This allowance will be paid directly to chartered accountants in Birmingham who will pay my staff directly, deducting all relevant tax and National Insurance payments. At no time will I have access to a penny of this money.

My current appointments:

Maggie Inglis is in charge of my Office and Graphic Design.
John Isons is representing my interests in the West Midlands.
Josh O'Nyons and Jacob Ellett are my Political Assistants.
Joanne Asselman is my Political Researcher.
Catherine Elvey is my Communications Advisor.
Paula Murray is my Personal Assistant and Data Manager.
Clive Page is assisting me with National Media and Press coverage.
Vicky Rogers is my Office Assistant.
Gary Cartwright is my Parliamentary Advisor.
Imax are my Marketing and Public Relations Advisors.
My Paying Agents are RSM Tenon, Chartered Accountants.


General Expenditure Allowance up to 31 December 2009
As specified in Article 28 of the EU regulations

• Office management and running costs, in particular rent and related charges (heating, lighting, insurance and cleaning): £5555.17
• The cost of purchasing or renting office equipment: £3516.88
• Telephone, including mobile telephone, and postal charges: £4825.53
• The cost of purchasing office supplies and stationery: £129.66
• The cost of purchasing books, periodicals and newspapers: £269.97
• The cost of using public data consultation networks: £147.19
• The expenses involved in equipping Members with communications equipment and maintaining that equipment, for example the purchase or rental of a telephone, a fax machine, a computer, a modem or communications card, a printer, other IT equipment, computer peripherals and software packages £3887.79
• The cost of a subscription to the Internet and to databases: £135.55
• Representation activities: £12585.22
• Hotel bills and other related expenses incurred in travelling in a Member’s Member State of election: £1819.62

Total General Expenditure: £32,872.58

Total General Expenditure Allowance received from the EU: £25,859.
This payment is received by every UK MEP from the EU regardless of their expenditure for this period.

The figures above are provisional and subject to an audit certificate.

None of my family members are employed by me.

Travel to and from the European Parliament

14 Journeys to Brussels.

5 Journeys to Strasbourg.

Daily Subsistence Allowance

A fixed allowance of €298 is paid for every day attended at the European Parliament to all MEP's.

Number of days attended in the European Parliament 47.

Days Working in the UK - West Midlands Region 73.

By the way the EU accounts haven't been passed by the auditors for 14 years.