Sarah Ludford MEP - European Parliament Allowances 2008

Travel

The cost of MEPs' travel from home to the places of work in Brussels and Strasbourg is reimbursed at a flat rate on the basis of distance and mode of transport. Travel elsewhere (outside the UK) on official parliamentary business is reimbursed at cost. In both cases, proof of travel is required. I received £34,182.08 in 2008.

Subsistence

MEPs receive a daily subsistence allowance for attendance on parliamentary duties outside the UK. I received £29,864.16 in 2008. I stay in a hotel in both Brussels and Strasbourg. I neither rent nor own any home other then the one I have owned and occupied with my husband in Islington in London since 1982.

Staff

The total received for salaries and staff costs in 2008 was £157,635 (£48,357.13 plus £109,277.97, which represents €135,312 converted at the European Central Bank rate).

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, services and expenses as well as employer's national insurances dues are paid from that account.

I have generally had since election in 1999 four or five employees at any one time; the names of the current ones can be seen at http://www.sarahludfordmep.org.uk/contact/. All 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. The fees he has 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.

Declaration of interest

Please see http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-dif/4529_13-08-2009.pdf . I was a member of the European Parliament's voluntary additional pension scheme July 1999 to July 2009.

General Expenditure

MEPs received £34,753.95 in 2008 for office costs and other general running expenses. My total expenditure in 2008 was £35,262.62, verified as follows:

Office Management and Running Costs: £10,004.67

Postage and Telephones: £3,920.41

IT: Hardware and Software: £4,576.85

Printing, Books Periodicals and Newspapers: £3,964.63

Stationery and Consumables: £2,177.10

Travel, Conferences and Ancillary Items: £10,138.96

Accountancy Fees: £500.00

Total Expenditure for year: £35,282.62

Overspend for year: £528.67

TOTAL: £34,753.95

David Tibbs

ACCA Affiliate