North East MPs to repay thousands after review of expenses system

Feb 5 2010 by William Green, The Journal

Who pays what?

SITTING MPs who have been asked to re-pay expenses by Sir Thomas Legg, including those whose repayments were reduced or overturned on appeal:

•Sir Alan Beith (Berwick) Total repayment recommended: £1,841.23 for rental claims, successfully reduced on appeal by the full amount.

•Nick Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend) Total repayment recommended: £697.65 for cleaning bills, re-paid yesterday.

•Stephen Byers (North Tyneside) Total repayment recommended: £1,125.00 for exceeding cleaning allowance, all re-paid.

•Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley) Total repayment recommended: £1,892.79 for duplicate payments and being overpaid for his council tax, all re-paid.

•Dave Clelland (Tyne Bridge) Total repayment recommended: £13,401.36 for payments linked to second home, reduced on appeal by £13,101.36. He has paid the remaining £300.

•John Cummings (Easington) Total repayment recommended: £180 over cleaning claims but actually returned £2,907.06.

•Bill Etherington (Sunderland North) Total repayment recommended: £434.71 for overpayment on mortgage, all re-paid.

•Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow) Total repayment recommended: £2,321.44 for overpayment on mortgage, all re-paid.

•Alan Milburn (Darlington) Total repayment recommended: £11,600.50, including £10,107.16 for overpayment on mortgage over several years, all re-paid.

•David Miliband (South Shields) Total repayment recommended: £808.34 for overpayment on mortgage, all re-paid.

•Chris Mullin (Sunderland South) Total repayment recommended: £1,298.99 reduced on appeal by £899. He has re-paid the outstanding £439.99.

•Denis Murphy (Wansbeck) Total repayment recommended: £1,841.84 for incorrect payments on mortgage interest and cleaning. The whole amount is outstanding.

•Philip Wilson (Sedgefield) Total repayment recommended: £224.92 for a duplicate electricity bill, all re-paid.

•Iain Wright (Hartlepool) Total repayment recommended: £805.97 for incorrect payment on mortgage interest, all re-paid.

Former MPs who were asked to repay expenses:

•Lord Mandelson (Hartlepool) Total repayment recommended: £800.00, all re-paid.

•Baroness Quin (Gateshead East and Washington West) Total repayment recommended: £1,504.00, successfully reduced on appeal by the full amount.

There are no issues in terms of expense payments to Dave Anderson (Blaydon), Hilary Armstrong (Durham North West), Peter Atkinson (Hexham), Roberta Blackman-Woods (Durham City), Alan Campbell (Tynemouth), Jim Cousins (Newcastle Central), Doug Henderson (Newcastle North), Sharon Hodgson (Gateshead East and Washington West), Fraser Kemp (Houghton and Washington East ), Kevan Jones (Durham North), Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland).