Proof of Eric Illsley's attitude to "expenses" came in written evidence he gave to Sir Christopher Kelly's inquiry into MPs' expenses.
"In all the 22 years I have been a member of the House it has been regarded as an allowance," he argued.
"It was never set against expenses and members did not, in the majority of instances have to prove any expenditure in order to claim the allowance.
"It is therefore misleading in my view to refer to the ACA (additional costs allowance) as expenses.
"MPs were encouraged to claim the allowance at maximum levels with a minimum of receipts. It cannot be right, years after the event to maintain that MPs should not have claimed this money after being encouraged to do so by the Fees Office and successive Governments who repeatedly urged MPs to forego pay rises.
"Indeed the advice given to MPs for many years was to divide the allowance by twelve and claim that amount each month as it "was easier for the Fees Office".
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2011/01/lilsley_on_expe.html
US Government The Power of Politics Election day Republican Democrat
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