Michael Clapham

Labour Party | Barnsley West and Penistone

Expenses

June 2009

Michael Clapham MP has defended his decision to file an expenses claim to cover the cost of a pair of glasses for his wife.

He employs his wife, Yvonne, in his London Office and included the £210 claim in his office expenses claim in 2006 but only after being told it was allowed.

Mr. Clapham said: "Glasses were bought for Yvonne who works for me. She spends more than five hours a day at a computer screen. The glasses are varifocals which allow her to come off the computer and go straight into reading. When we enquired we were told by the Fees Office we could have varifocals and they could be claimed for under office expenses.

"In the event the £210 bill was rejected but a £50 contribution was made. Certain sectors of the Civil Service, funded by public money, would have paid for the spectacles" Had she been working in certain areas of the Civil Service she would have got glasses free. Similarly, I understand, if working for the Police, glasses are free. That is the reason the claim was made."

Mr. Clapham said "He would have made a similar claim for any of his staff. I employ three staff and if any of them were to come forward needing glasses I would do the same."

He also claimed £64.93 for a tea set from Next. The claim was rejected by House of Commons officials but Mr. Clapham told the Chronicle "that was because it had been field on the wrong from under 'incidental expenses'. In the event I never resubmitted it and claims I made wre always modest.

"In terms of furniture I have always been moderate in whatever I buy. I did not buy John Lewis type furniture, it was an MFI wardrobe and Ikea units".

The Telegraph also claimed Mr. Clapham had recouped £5,266 for cleaning and £15,594 for groceries at his London flat between 2004-05 and 2007-08 without providing any receipts.

"I always claimed as expected within the rules and consequently provided receipts where receipts needed to be provided. I was among the bottom 20 of MPs for claiming. I have always tried to keep my claims moderate and at the same time doing a good job for my constituents."

Mr. Clapham added: "the maximum amount I could have claimed for groceries was £24,000. I claimed £15,600 which is substantially less. For cleaning I could have claimed £15,00, again I claimed substantially less.