MPs' second-home payouts fall after scandal
12 April 2012
Espenses claims for MPs' second homes slumped by more than a third after the scandal that rocked Westminster, new figures show.
The cost to the taxpayer was £6.8 million in 2009/10, down from £10.7 million the previous year, House of Commons data reveals. Allowances fell to £90.7 million overall, from £95.6 million.
But London allowance payments, taken under new rules by MPs within 20 miles of Westminster instead of second-home claims, soared from £148,904 in 2008/9 to £676,248 in 2009/10. The House has yet to supply "golden goodbye" details for MPs who quit.
