HC Deb 07 December 1972 vol 847 cc519-20W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Lord President of the Council, on the basis of regulations in force, how many expense allowances may be paid simultaneously to Members of Parliament who are members of travelling Select Committees, and the United Kingdom delegations to the Council of Europe, to Western European Union and the North Atlantic Assembly and who do not represent London constituencies.

Mr. Prior

Members who do not represent London constituencies are eligible for the annual allowance of up to £750 in respect of accommodation and other expenses necessarily incurred either in London or in their constituencies through being away from their main home on parliamentary business. This allowance is based upon actual additional such expenditure over the year as a whole. Such expenses and the appropriate allowance are not necessarily affected when such Members are temporarily away travelling on Select Committee business or as a member of a United Kingdom parliamentary delegation, when they become eligible for the appropriate daily allowances to cover further additional costs they incur.

If a Member happened to be visiting the same place for several separate parliamentary purposes he would not be entitled to draw more than one allowance to cover the same expenses.