Lord Berkeleyasked the Chairman of Committees:
Further to his Written Answer of 9 December (WA 51), and the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on the same day (WA 55), why the levels of reimbursement of Members' expenses in respect of travel by car are above the Treasury figure, while those for travel by bicycle are below the Treasury figure; and whether there are any plans to review these levels of reimbursement. [HL417]
§ The Chairman of Committeees (Lord Brabazon of Tara)The rate of the motor mileage allowance was originally set in 1984, when the House decided that it should be set on a single basis for all types of vehicle, with a reduced rate payable above 20,000 miles. The rate was, until 1994, uprated by reference to the RAC table of running costs; since then it has been uprated in line with the retail price index (RPI). The rate of the bicycle allowance was first set in 1998 on the basis of a recommendation by the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRP). It has been uprated annually since then in line with the RPI.
As Members of the House are reimbursed on the basis of actual expenses incurred, and are not, in any event, employees, the maximum approved mileage allowance payment for employees does not apply to them, although I understand that the SSRB's recommendation in 1998 reflected then current Inland Revenue advice on the level of allowance allowable for tax purposes to employees using bicycles on official business.
I understand that the SSRB will shortly begin a review of Members' reimbursement allowances.