MPs at it again - Channel 4

The_White_Horse

they should build an easyhotel style place for them. if terrorists hit it, we can always hold new elections.

CLAPTON

SailorSam wrote: »

A lot of people take on jobs were they have to be away from their families. Probably they don't like but accept it as part of the job.
Our armed forces id the one that first comes to mind but then you have men working on oil rigs and numerous others.

yes indeed, and in general adequate accommodation is provided or suitable financial provision is made.

Andy_L

MacMickster wrote: »

And in my view, any reasonable employer would seek to minimise the amount that employees can claim to only additional costs necessarily incurred by their employees to perform their duties.

In this case, it would make sense to provide accommodation which MPs could choose to use free of charge when in London on parliamentary business. If they chose not to use this facility then they would be expected to bear the additional costs themselves.

and whats the relative cost of building/converting/maintaining that accomodation compared to paying MPs (and presuemably Lords as well?)
Considering that in the wonderful world of resource account budgeting money tied up in fixed assest is a department cost & that it would almost certainaly have to be a PFI project I doubt it would save money

SailorSam

CLAPTON wrote: »

yes indeed, and in general adequate accommodation is provided or suitable financial provision is made.

We're not asking that the MPs be made to sleep in a tents like the soldiers but to have hundreds of 1 and 2 bedroom flats owned and serviced by the State which could be used by politicians would save a fortune in expense claims.

StevieJ

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Apparently it would become a terrorist target with so many MPs in one location.

So say the MPs.....who all sit in one room in the commons week after week...doh.

I hear what they say, after all we do have a precedent

Andy_L

SailorSam wrote: »

We're not asking that the MPs be made to sleep in a tents like the soldiers but to have hundreds of 1 and 2 bedroom flats owned and serviced by the State which could be used by politicians would save a fortune in expense claims.

It would avoid expenses claims but would still cost the tax payer money for purchase & upkeep

I repeat my previous question: would this be cheaper than paying rent costs to private landlords? Which, if it made people happier, could be paid directly to the landlord by a department in Westminster rather than reimbursing MP's receipted claims.

CLAPTON

SailorSam wrote: »

We're not asking that the MPs be made to sleep in a tents like the soldiers but to have hundreds of 1 and 2 bedroom flats owned and serviced by the State which could be used by politicians would save a fortune in expense claims.

I've no idea whether that would be cheaper

the original 'outrage' was that MPs owned property in London and rather than live in themselves at no expense to the taxpayers they let it out ..and in some cases to other MPs and then both claimed expenses.

ILW

It's not exactly "honorable".

Andy_L

CLAPTON wrote: »

I've no idea whether that would be cheaper

the original 'outrage' was that MPs owned property in London and rather than live in themselves at no expense to the taxpayers they let it out ..and in some cases to other MPs and then both claimed expenses.

Why should am MP who owns a BTL property in London have to forgo the rental income by living in it themselves whilst someone who's BTL is in, say, Yorkshire gets to keep the income?

sammyjammy

Why can't they base themselves on the Civil Service schemes they've introduced. You no longer get an allowance for an overnight stay to spend as you wish. The same amount of money is available to you but has to be spent on a meal (max £20 without alcohol) for which you must provide receipts, invariable only a percentage is spent, this is on top of hotel expenses booked through department at preferential rates. For those who work elsewhere for a longer period of time e.g. six months detached duty some distance from home get to claim Lodging and continuing commitment Allowance of £34 a night or £163 a week in London.