Telegraph series on MP expenses looks at home insurance
Ruth Kelly, at the time treasury minister, claimed MP expenses to pay for flood damage when she had building insurance, and former Chancellor Ken Clarke had to be chased for insurance receipts, The Telegraph has reported.
Kelly used her taxpayer-funded second home allowances to pay for £31,000 of rebuilding, refurbishment and appliances at the house in her Bolton West constituency with some needed after a water pipe burst. At the time of the flooding, Kelly was the financial secretary to the Treasury.
Kelly said “with the passage of time”, she “can’t now recall” why she did not make a claim on insurance. “I acted in good faith throughout and have broken neither the spirit nor the letter of the rules,” she said.
The Telegraph says some of her claims were reduced for being excessive.
MP Fabian Hamilto, was made to pay for £295 of damage caused to his bathroom and kitchen by leaking pipes after he confirmed that the cost could be met from his home insurance when told to check by the fees office in June 2004.
In 2004-05, Clarke was sent a reminder to provide a receipt for a £1,079 insurance bill that could not be paid because a receipt had not been provided.
In October 2006 Clarke was again being chased for a receipt for his insurance premium by the Commons fees office, which he produced.
