MP Roy claimed for Kleenex tissues

Jun 24 2009 by Richard Mooney, Wishaw Press

A £795 LCD television set, a £479.99 laptop, over £200 for a digital camera and £1574 for tax return preparations are some of the claims Frank Roy has made in the past five years as an MP for Motherwell and Wishaw.

Since 2001 the ex-Ravenscraig worker has claimed £921,707 in Parliamentary allowances – this includes staffing, office and £138,030 for his additional costs allowance (living in London).

In August 2004 Mr Roy claimed £2.09 on Kleenex For Men tissues and in April 2004 he also paid Scotlmail £1536 for the distribution of 32,000 leaflets.

During April 2006 the 50-year-old bought some items from Argos and claimed £69.98 for two Sapporo dinner sets at £50, a £4.99 tumbler set and a £14.99 16-piece cutlery set. He also bought six mugs at £1.50 each and nine storage compartments at £4 each from Instore.The MP spent £11.97 on a slope top bottle vase, an oval vase matt and a chocolate mix of palm leaves bought from Dunelm Mills.

Also during this time he spent £57 on three pieces of stitched wall art at Harry Corry and £156.09 on four cases of Kleenex Ultra hand towels.

On different occasions over the past five years the MP again claimed £1574.52 for advice on his tax returns – costing £393.63 a time.

In February 2006 the MP also claimed for £350 blinds within in his constituency office. As previously reported in the Wishaw Press, he claimed for £750 towards a £795 television in August 2006.

On claiming taxpayers’ money for the TV set, he said: “I understand that to some people, this may seem like an extravagant amount for a TV, but as far as I’m concerned each individual has to satisfy their conscience and I have.”

Between February 2007 and March 2008 Mr Roy, who earns £86,348 for his role as a Government whip and MP, claimed £89.99 for a vacuum cleaner for his Wishaw office and £234.89 for an Olympus Digital camera, along with a memory card and bag on a package deal from Currys.

In January 2008 he claimed £265.60 for the fitting of a new food dispenser and the removal of an old one. He also claims £147.26 car parking charges at his London home.

In March 2008 the Motherwell and Wishaw MP claimed for a £479.99 Advent 9517 laptop, along with Norton Internet security software at £29.99 and a Targus laptop bag costing £29.99.

Commenting on his claims, Frank Roy said: “Since I became an MP I had to employ the use of an accountant to ensure I paid the correct amount of tax that relates entirely to the expenses of my Wishaw office. I always personally pay tax on the accountant’s fees.

“The office digital camera is used to take photographs at the many constituency engagements I undertake throughout the year.The camera is also used to accompany correspondence highlighting constituents problems to the local authority and other agencies.

“The laptop is for my use as an MP and the bluetooth car kit enables me to take and make calls from my parliamentary issued PDA whilst driving.”

He added: “I very much welcome the fact that my expenses, and the expenses of every MP, will now be audited by an external, independent, accountancy firm and that the firm will have the opportunity to question any individual MP.”

What do you think of this? Is your local MP worth your tax money? Get it touch with us on (01698) 373111 or email us at wishawpress@s-un.co.uk

To view your MP’s expenses visit www.parliament.uk, or to question Mr Roy about his allowances email him at royf@parliament.uk, call his constituency office on (01698) 303040, or at the House of Commons on (020) 721 93000.