Trusted on My Expenses

Over the summer and the past few months it's been hard to escape the stories about MPs' expenses, so I wanted to explain my claims, because I think it's important to be transparent about what I spend money on and to dispel the rumours that MPs are all lining their pockets with public money.

I have consistently voted for the publication of MP's expenses. As an MP for an outer London parliamentary seat I could have claimed for a second home under the current parliamentary rules. I NEVER HAVE AND NEVER WILL.

The Telegraph newspaper even called me a 'Saint' for my record on expenses throughout this summers press announcements.

If you have any comments or questions please email me info@paulburstow.co.uk or write to me: 234 Gander Green Lane, Cheam, Surrey, SM3 9QF

The expenses I have claimed are included on this page below.

• The full breakdown of my claims is available here

• View table of expenses claimed (from theyworkforyou.com)

• View 'The Green Book - a guide to members' allowances' (PDF).

Expenses Claims 2008/9

Second Home Allowance

2008/9 - £0

I have NEVER claimed for a second property, seeing no reason for outer London MPs not to commute to work just like everyone else has to.

I fully supported and signed a commons motion tabled by my Liberal Democrat colleague Sarah Teather calling for the abolition of the second home allowance for London MPs.

Office Costs

2008/9 - £11,160

This covers the cost of running my constituency office on Gander Green Lane, any equipment and supplies we use there, it includes such things as telephone and photocopying costs. I also have stationery that is used to reply to when my constituents write to me or when I write to ministers on their behalf.

We incur all the usual costs of a small office and this is perhaps where the term 'expenses' is highly misleading - these are not extras, but things that are vital to keep the office functioning and for me to perform my duties as a member of parliament.

Staffing Costs

2008/9 - £97,629

By far my biggest cost or 'expense' is that of employing the staff who work in parliamentary and constituency offices. In my Westminster office I have a full-time researcher and in the constituency a small team of full and part-time staff who work on constituency casework.

This makes up the largest proportion of my spending each year; but it is important to say that the expenses claimed reflect the number of staff in both offices and the work load they deal with, as well as the higher costs associated with London. It would be impossible for me to do my job without this team of people working with me and supporting me in both my parliamentary and constituency duties.

Communication Allowance

2008/9 - £16,158

This allowance was introduced in 2007-08 to cover the costs of MPs communicating with their constituents about non-party political activities. Such literature you may have received will include letters about issues such as St Helier hospital and Nonsuch Park, petitions, questionnaires, contact cards and surgery posters.

Travel Costs

2008/9 - £2,318

This covers my travel on parliamentary duties within the constituency and an annual season ticket for my commute from Cheam to Westminster. MPs can also reclaim the costs of up to 12 return journeys for staff to and from the constituency, for meetings with their MP or training; I make very little use of this.

Expenses Claims 2007/8

Second home allowance (what's known as the Additional Cost Allowance)

2007/08 - £0

I have never claimed for a second property, seeing no reason for outer London MPs not to commute to work just like everyone else has to.

I fully supported and signed a commons motion tabled by my Liberal Democrat colleague Sarah Teather calling for the abolition of the second home allowance for London MPs.

Office costs

2007/08 - £12,006, £6,761 - stationery, £1,267 IT provision

This covers the cost of running my constituency office on Gander Green Lane, any equipment and supplies we use there, it includes such things as telephone and photocopying costs. I also have stationery that is used to reply to when my constituents write to me or when I write to ministers on their behalf.

We incur all the usual costs of a small office and this is perhaps where the term 'expenses' is highly misleading - these are not extras, but things that are vital to keep the office functioning and for me to perform my duties as a member of parliament.

Staffing costs

2007/08 - £87,754

By far my biggest cost or 'expense' is that of employing the staff who work in parliamentary and constituency offices. In my Westminster office I have a full-time researcher and in the constituency a small team of full and part-time staff who work on constituency casework.

This makes up the largest proportion of my spending each year; but it is important to say that the expenses claimed reflect the number of staff in both offices and the work load they deal with, as well as the higher costs associated with London. It would be impossible for me to do my job without this team of people working with me and supporting me in both my parliamentary and constituency duties.

Travel costs

2007/08 - £2,534, £7 - staff, £0 spouses

This covers my travel on parliamentary duties within the constituency and an annual season ticket for my commute from Cheam to Westminster. MPs can also reclaim the costs of up to 12 return journeys for staff to and from the constituency, for meetings with their MP or training; I make very little use of this. It is also possible for close family members, spouse, children under 18 to make up to 15 return journeys a year; this is not an allowance my family claim.

Communications Allowance

2007/08 - £15,525

This allowance was introduced in 2007-08 to cover the costs of MPs communicating with their constituents about non-party political activities. Such literature you may have received will include letters about issues such as St Helier hospital and Nonsuch Park, petitions, questionnaires, contact cards and surgery posters.

In 2007/08 the allowance was £10,000 but funds can be transferred from either office or staffing allowances, which I decide to do last year because of the public interest in the issues I was working on.