Gil Paterson: Time to end the House of Lords expenses racket — 14 per cent of peers claiming cash for nothing

MSP Gil Paterson says it is time to end the expenses con

Clydebank’s MSP has backed calls to end the financial abuse of taxpayers’ cash by unelected peers in the House of Lord.

SNP MPs in Westminster have revealed 14 per cent of peers clocked in for expenses in June without any recorded parliamentary contributions.

They claimed the total monthly expenses of £4,200 made up of daily payments of £300 to cover costs of their supposed duties.

It has now been suggested a new swipe-in-swipe-out system is installed for both greater accountability and enhanced security.

MSP Gil Paterson said: “While this system will be getting used legitimately by many of the peers in the House of Lords, it is absolutely being abused by some. This has to change, there’s no question to.

“Such suggestions will be a bitter pill to swallow for our Westminster elite who seem to thrive off this gravy train.

“These are the same people who have been voting through and influencing hard-line austerity and benefit cuts, causing record-high use of foodbanks in my constituency.

“Regardless of whether you agree with an unelected second chamber, I am sure there is wide consensus among the public to end this racket as a matter of urgency.”

ENDS

From Gil Paterson MSP (Clydebank and Milngavie)
By Alan Ferguson 07342 061722

NOTES – SNP NATIONAL PRESS RELEASE W/ FUTHER INFO:

For release: Thursday 20th July
 
Att'n newsdesks
 
NEW SECURITY PROPOSALS  ARE OPPORTUNITY FOR  GREATER LORDS ACCOUNTABILITY
 
SWIPE IN – SWIPE OUT SYSTEM COULD END ‘SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE’ LORDS ABUSES 
 
SNP House of Lords spokesperson Tommy Sheppard MP has suggested a new system of ‘swiping in and out‘ for parliamentarians at Westminster, for both members of the House of Lords and MPs.
 
This would be both as a new security measure – but also as a means of trying to avoid some of the reported abuses of attendance allowances by members of the Lords. 
 
Tommy Sheppard has written to the authorities at Westminster  – to suggest the new attendance system for peers would also help to establish for how long those Lords who claim their daily £300 allowance for coming into the building are actually present.
 
Mr Sheppard has said the current system is ‘simply unacceptable’ and adds to the argument that the House of Lords is an ‘affront to democracy’.
 
Tommy Sheppard MP commented:
 
‘’There are so many shortcomings in the way the House of Lords functions – it is an utter anachronism. My suggestions are aimed at increasing their security and that of MPs  – but accountability of peers is also key in this proposal. Members of the House of Lords operate under such privileged rules - which are clearly open to abuse -  and it is simply unacceptable.
 
‘’In the last month for which figures are available (Feb 2017) – SNP research shows that 14% of those Lords  who claimed the maximum £4200 for that month -  made no recorded contribution to parliament whatsoever. My suggestions will allow unelected members of the Lords to demonstrate that they put in a full shift for their £300 daily allowance – or not.
 
‘’As with anyone receiving public funds, peers should be open to scrutiny about how much time they are involved in debates or committees - by swiping in and out – that will at least be a public record of duration of attendance and value for money.
 
‘’There are now over 800 Lords and we know that the Tories want to increase their number even more whilst decreasing the size of the House of Commons. This is just an affront to democracy – and while we have to put up with this laughable chamber – we should insist on greater accountability.’’

Ends
SNP Media 

See letter from Tommy Sheppard MP here :

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/4fae14f57a18ee08253ffc251/files/473f134b-0124-4777-8fd2-846e02bb6158/18.7.17_Eric_Hepburn_security_pass_letter_1_.pdf