NORTH East Herts MP Oliver Heald claimed �156,594 in expenses in the year 2007-08, of which �22,979 was second home allowance. His claims for a wide range of items over the last four years were made public today (Thursday) when all MPs expenses were put
NORTH East Herts MP Oliver Heald claimed �156,594 in expenses in the year 2007-08, of which �22,979 was second home allowance.
His claims for a wide range of items over the last four years were made public today (Thursday) when all MPs' expenses were put online.
In a two-month period, Mr Heald claimed �32.80 for pens and �96.30 for a select band of newspapers which included the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph and The Comet for which he claimed 75p a week.
There were regular bills for office and mobile phone and bottled water.
A hole punch for his office cost taxpayers �7.99.
A replacement kitchen blind cost �58, a replacement defective valve in the WC and other works in the bathroom of his second home cost �678.
In one month, he claimed �72 for household supplies including loo rolls, detergent, J Cloths and kitchen rolls.
In October 2007 Mr Heald claimed �375 for food, and claimed the same amount for food the following month.
In February 2008 it amounted to �121. A breakdown of his other claims for that month included �863 for interest payments on his mortgage, �35 for utilities, �105.51 for council tax/rates, �128 for cleaning and �14.53 for water.
In a handwritten note to the parliamentary fees office, Mr Heald said: "As I mentioned on the phone, Everest are finally at the point of practical completion on the windows contract for the flat. Taking account of the deposit and additional payment of �1,500, the balance is �3,367.28."
For the year, he claimed the �7,485 which was paid to North East Herts Conservative Association for providing administrative services including �3,500 for estimated constituency surgery costs.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here