Mike Hall MP

Labour Party | Weaver Vale

Additional costs allowance review

4 February 2010

The Members Estimate Committee published on Thursday 4 February the outcome of the ACA Review by Sir Thomas Legg and the decisions on appeals considered by Sir Paul Kennedy.

Mike Hall said:

'The outcome of the ACA Review and appeals is that I should repay £12,639.28 claimed as part of my Additional Cost Allowance between 2004 and 2008.

I fully supported the decision in July 2009 to have an independent audit of claims made by Members of Parliament and I will fully abide by the decisions made by the House of Commons Estimate Committee on the repayment in respect of my ACA claims.

I have already contacted the Department of Resources to make the necessary arrangements for repayment.

I fully regret the whole episode on Parliamentary allowances and expenses. I make a full and unreserved apology to my constituents about this matter.

Over the last eight months The House of Commons has now put into place a series of measures governing claims and payment of allowances and expenses made by Members of Parliament. We now have a strict, transparent, fully audited and openly published regime governing claims made by Members of Parliament. I hope that public confidence will now be restored in our Parliamentary system'.