Instead of claiming what they are entitled to , those law-makers and upholders of law and order in the House of Lords are on the fiddle with their expenses .
Peers are exploiting an expenses loophole to claim a tax-free annual income of up to £48,000, it was claimed today . Parliamentary rules mean members of the House of Lords can claim back up to £308 a day for travel, meals and accommodation while performing their duties and is not eligible for tax.
However, under the system they do not have to submit receipts to prove their outlay.
It was reported that nearly two thirds of peers are automatically claiming the maximum amount nearly every time they visit the Lords , viewing it as a right .
Some 259 of the 550 Lords who applied for "day subsistence" - a £78.50 payment for meals and taxis - claimed the maximum amount at least 95 per cent of the time.
272 0f the 406 peers who claim "overnight subsistence" for hotels - worth £159.50 a day -claimed the maximum at least 95 per cent of the time.
And 338 of the 514 Lords who claim office expenses - worth £69 a day - claimed the maximum on nearly all occasions
It was reported that several lords admitted that they saw the expenses as an allowance and collecting the full amount was routine.
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LORD Foulkes, Labour peer , has clocked up £62,509 in tax-free expenses as an "unpaid" member of the House of Lords. His attendance record in the Lords was 129 days. He voted in just 22 per cent of divisions.
ReplyDeleteLord Watson, since his early release from jail in May last year for arson, has managed to bill £31,932 in expenses.he has voted in just 18 per cent of divisions - lower than average.
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http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1794482007