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23/10/2009
Further Stormont Expenses Revealed
Many of Northern Ireland MLAs still claimed office expenses during the suspension of devolution, it has been revealed.
Details of claims made by Assembly members between 2003 and 2008 have been published for the first time, and show most continued to receive the maximum £48,000 for office costs.
The devolved government was suspended in October 2002 and despite an election in May 2003, the institutions were not reinstated until another election in March 2007.
Direct rule was imposed when then Secretary of State John Reid dissolved the local Executive's powers.
All claims made by MLAs during this time were approved by the Assembly and complied with expenses rules.
Monies were used to pay office rents, cover staff salaries and facilitate equipment.
Sinn Fein members were the highest claimants for administration charges. Party president Gerry Adams was reimbursed £17,000 for secretarial services in 2005/06. The same year he paid £9000 for rental costs on a property in west Belfast.
During this period Peter Robinson, the then DUP deputy leader, paid £5,600 to his party for office rental.
Former Strangford MLA Lord Kilclooney paid a portion of allowance into a company he owned.
The Ulster Unionist peer said the firm, West Ulster Estates, was used to administer running costs and the payments had been approved by the fees office.
Other MLAs were allowed to rent premises from relatives under the rules.
Patsy McGlone of the SDLP paid a relation £2,400 during 2005/2006 for the office space.
The property was bought over from Mr McGlone's previous landlord by the relative.
Mr McGlone only rented the office for a year after the ownership changed.
(PR/GK)
Details of claims made by Assembly members between 2003 and 2008 have been published for the first time, and show most continued to receive the maximum £48,000 for office costs.
The devolved government was suspended in October 2002 and despite an election in May 2003, the institutions were not reinstated until another election in March 2007.
Direct rule was imposed when then Secretary of State John Reid dissolved the local Executive's powers.
All claims made by MLAs during this time were approved by the Assembly and complied with expenses rules.
Monies were used to pay office rents, cover staff salaries and facilitate equipment.
Sinn Fein members were the highest claimants for administration charges. Party president Gerry Adams was reimbursed £17,000 for secretarial services in 2005/06. The same year he paid £9000 for rental costs on a property in west Belfast.
During this period Peter Robinson, the then DUP deputy leader, paid £5,600 to his party for office rental.
Former Strangford MLA Lord Kilclooney paid a portion of allowance into a company he owned.
The Ulster Unionist peer said the firm, West Ulster Estates, was used to administer running costs and the payments had been approved by the fees office.
Other MLAs were allowed to rent premises from relatives under the rules.
Patsy McGlone of the SDLP paid a relation £2,400 during 2005/2006 for the office space.
The property was bought over from Mr McGlone's previous landlord by the relative.
Mr McGlone only rented the office for a year after the ownership changed.
(PR/GK)
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