Use of the European Parliament parliamentary assistance allowance

I have now and have consistently had since election in 1999 four employees; the names of the current ones are in the 'Contact Sarah' section of this website. All four are paid within the salary band £20-£30,000 per annum. I have never had a family member as an employee. My husband Steve Hitchins has been paid occasional fees for services and projects in support of my MEP office. He is a consultant advising on commercial and local government issues after a career in business and politics. The matters on which he has assisted or advised me include office lease and landlord negotiation; office maintenance and insurance; equipment purchase and installation; staff recruitment, interviewing, contracts and training; design and production of publications and information projects; constituency and party relations; and the operation of local and regional government in London.

I do not disclose information on individual salaries or payments. The fees Steve Hitchins have been paid have been covered by the required returns to the European Parliament authorities about the use of the parliamentary staff assistance allowance, and those authorities have audit powers at their disposal.

My staff allowances are administered under a contract by my service provider Nigel Bliss, the finance director of the Liberal Democrats, who is a qualified accountant. The funds received monthly from the European Parliament go into an account which is separate from any party accounts, and staff salaries, any staff expenses eg travel to Strasbourg as well as employer's national insurances dues are paid from this account.