I use my allowances to achieve results for the people of West Lancashire and to communicate the work I’m doing on their behalf.
I maintain a fully staffed constituency office, open to the public between 9am and 5pm with five full time members of staff dealing with constituent’s enquiries and local issues.
Occasionally I have unpaid interns working in my Parliamentary Office who receive no salary but Parliament pays them directly their out of pocket expenses for travel and lunch.
In carrying out my duties as a Member of Parliament when the House of Commons is sitting, I am required to be in London from Monday to Thursday.
Therefore, Parliament covers the cost of return journeys to London. Parliament also covers the costs incurred for a second home in London, which is wholly, exclusively and necessarily used to enable me to carry out my Parliamentary duties.
As this is my second home when it is eventually sold I will be required to pay Capital Gains Tax on the property; and I have also committed to any profit from flat will be given to Parliament on behalf of taxpayers. This also applies to the furniture I purchased.
People quite rightly expect a high standard of service from their MP and this is what I endeavour to provide. I will continue to fight hard on behalf of West Lancashire constituents on the issues that matter to them.
A breakdown of this expenditure is available in this section of the website since I was elected in 2005.
MP Rosie responds to questions asked by The Telegraph regarding allowance claims
(26/05/09)
West Lancashire MP, Rosie Cooper has responded to questions posed by The Telegraph with the following statement:
“I have publicly stated that MPs should be subject to proper scrutiny when it comes to Parliamentary Allowances. In being transparent I have allowed the local press to examine in detail each of the receipts submitted as part of the Additional Cost Allowance claims."
“I absolutely refute the Daily Telegraph’s suggestion that my claims do not meet the actuality and the spirit of the Green Book."
“I have responded in substantial detail to the enquiries as I believe the research is misinformed and incorrect. For example they suggest that work carried out on the flat was paid for over three years. This is simply not true.”
“The comments about improvements works to the flat are also incorrect as the total bill came to £17,654.80. The cost to me personally was £12,654.80 for this work. There was one single payment of £5,000 relating to the repair work in a single financial year 2006/07 and therefore does not stretch over three financial years. I haven’t claimed nor sought to make any further claims for this work."
“The work will actually benefit the public purse in the end as I have previously stated that any profit realised when the flat is eventually sold will be given to Parliament on behalf of taxpayers. This also applies to the furniture that I bought.”
Allowances claimed by Rosie Cooper MP - 2007/2008 Members Allowance
Allowances claimed by Rosie Cooper MP - 2007/2008 Travel Allowances
Cost of staying away from main home: £23,083
This cost allows Members of Parliament to stay in London during the week, when Parliament is sitting, and can be used to pay for hotels, or towards the interest on mortgages or the rent of accommodation.
London Supplement: £0
Office Running Costs: £18,580
Staffing Costs: £72,096
This budget can only be used to pay the wages of members of staff. Rosie Cooper MP employs four members of staff in her constituency office at 127 Burscough Street, Ormskirk. There are no staff members based in her House of Commons office.
Centrally Purchased Stationary: £1,779
Stationary: Associated Postage Costs: £4,848
The above two expenditures relate to the purchase of stationery for use in casework and letters to constituents. The amount spent is indicative of the quantity of casework that was handled by Rosie Cooper's office in 2007/2008.
Central IT Provision: £1,131
Staff cover (TSA) and other costs: £0
Communications Allowance: £9,746
These allowances available to all Members of Parliament are to allow travel between an MP’s constituency and London. Rosie Cooper MP uses the train each week to travel down to London and to come home to the constituency in order to carry out surgeries, meetings, and other constituency functions.
MP Travel - regular journeys between home/constituency/Westminster
