On expenses

Datablog at The Guardian has helpfully highlighted an easy way the average Joe Bloggs can get access to the details of what his or her local MP claims on expenses.

I would imagine some folk would find this very interesting, given the current uproar over second homes, cleaners and Tudor beams etc.

The MP covering the Newton-le-willows patch is a pro-Parkside chap called Dave Watts. Datafile reports that he's claimed the following in the latest year on the record:

£123,836 - Total allowances claimed
£109,214 - Total basic allowances excl. travel
£14,622 - Total travel claimed
£11,632 - Cost of staying away from main home
£0 - London supplement
£26,763 - Office running costs
£59,222 - Staffing costs
£567 - Centrally purchased stationery
£1,497 - Stationery associated purchase costs
£1,125 - Central IT provision
£0 - Staff cover and other costs
£8,408 - Comms allowance
£1,804 - MP Mileage to Westminster
£12,588 - MP Rail travel to Westminster
£0 - MP Air travel to Westminster
£0 - MP Misc travel to Westminster
£0 - Other travel
£230 - Total travel (spouse)
2 - Number of journeys (spouse)
£0 MP family travel
£0 Employee travel