Members' Allowances (Hansard, 17 February 1992)

§ Mr. MacGregor

[holding answer 29 January 1992]:Information on the allowances for Members of the Spanish Congress of Deputies is not available. The other information requested is as follows:

ALLOWANCES
UNITED KINGDOM
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Subsistence and Constituency Costs Additional Costs Allowance of up to £10,786 for those with constituencies outside London for cost of maintaining second home. Local allowance of £1,222 for those with constituencies in London.

Travel Free travel to and from House on Parliamentary business in United Kingdom and/or motor mileage allowance of up to 20,000 miles at following rates (in pence per mile):

		further mileage
1,300 cc	28.8	15.1
1,301cc-2,300 cc	43.4	19.9
2,30 1 cc+	68.2	34.1

One free trip per year to EC institution—return Business Class airfare and two nights subsistence.

Office Secretarial Assistance Office Costs Allowance of up to £28,986 (+ 10 per cent. for pension contributions of any staff employed).

Postage Free inland postage.

Telephone Charges Free inland telephone charges.

Allowance

UNITED STATES
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Subsistence and Constituency Costs Covered by House Committee budgets.

Travel Official Expenses Allowance covers domestic travel to and from constituency. 29W Travel on committee business is paid from committee budgets.

Official and Secretarial Assistance Clerk Hire allowance of US $537,480 per annum (£295,725) to hire up to 18 permanent and 4 non-permanent staff. Base Official Expenses Allowances of US $122,500 (£67,400) but may be increased to reflect constituency distance from Washington. Covers district travel, district office lease, stationery, telecommunications, mass mailing, postage, computer services, and official expenses in general. Now incorporates up to US $35,000 (£19,257) for equipping district offices. An official Entertainment Allowance ranging between US $ 175,000 (£96,286) and US $275,000 (£151,307) is paid to most members.

Postage Official Mail Allowance averaging US $175,000 (£96,286) per annum.

Telephone Charges

Allowance

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

MEMBER OF THE BUNDESTAG

Subsistence and Constituency Costs Costs of maintaining a second home met from Office Allowance (see below). Hotel room bills paid when overnight stay is necessary —DM 39 (£14) per night basic. Accommodation and subsistence (variable depending on country visited) also paid on official trips abroad. Up to DM 334 (£116) maximum if bills are submitted.

Travel Free first class season ticket for rail travel, including sleeper tickets. Free first class air travel for official internal flights. Free use of the Bundestag fleet of official cars for trips within 20 km around Bonn and to Bonn-Cologne airport. Free first class flight and local transport costs for official trips abroad.

Office and Secretarial Assistance Secretarial and research costs of DM 12,296 (£4,284) per month for one secretary in Bonn, one in constituency and one researcher. Office equipment allowance provides DM 2,000 (£697) per year for running costs (DM 2,500 (£871) in first year for initial equipping of office). Free stationery. DM 5,765 (£2,009) per month, covering office costs, including constituency office.

Postage Free postage from Bonn (constituency postage is met from constituency costs), 3 fax machines provided—up to DM 4,000 (£1,394) per year fax running costs.

Telephone Charges Free telephone calls from Bonn (worldwide).

ALLOWANCES
FRANCE
DEPUTY IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Subsistence and Constituency costs Between 3 and 10 percent of salary, depending upon distance of constituency from Paris. Current salary is FFr 29,113 (£2,977) per month.

Travel Free railway pass for first class and sleeper Carriages. 40 free internal return flights. All travel may be accompanied by spouse at half price. Toll charges between Paris and constituency are reimbursed but only on official business.

Office and Secretarial costs Secretarial allowance of FFr 24,588 (£2,514) per month to 30W cover typist and other office expenses. Contribution towards cost of research assistants etc. FFr 24,788 (£2,535) per month. Free stationery.

Postage Free postage. Subsidised fax for constituency.

Telephone Charges Free inland calls from Assembly or constituency.