Response from Sir Thomas Legg, 21st October 2009:
Sir Thomas Legg has replied to John McFall and given his final conclusion on the query which he raised on 12th October (see statement below).
Sir Thomas said: "Having examined the records in the light of my interpretation of the rules and standards in force at the time and the information you have supplied, I have not identified any payments made to you under the ACA during the review period which I consider call for any repayment or further supporting evidence to be provided by you. Accordingly, my conclusion is that no further action is required from you in this matter." |
Statement by John McFall, 16th October 2009:Earlier this year, the House of Commons asked Sir Thomas Legg to carry out a review of their 'ACA' expenses (these are the expenses paid to MPs for living in London). He reported back to MPs on 12th October.
I have been asked by Sir Thomas for clarification on one issue only: a claim for service charges of £1,793.30 in April 2004. Sir Thomas’ office could not find any supporting evidence for this claim.
I have contacted his office to point out that the supporting evidence for this claim is already in the public domain. It has been available on the Internet, whether on my own website or on the Parliamentary website, since April 2009. It has also been held by the Fees Office since I made this claim in April 2004.
In addition, I am supplying Sir Thomas with a copy of the cheque with which I paid the invoices; confirmation from my bank that the cheque was deducted from my account and paid to the service company; and copies of the original invoices which have been retained by my office since 2004.
Inexplicably, Sir Thomas’s team were unable to find hard copies of this evidence, but seem not to have checked the scanned copies held by the Fees Office, nor the copies available online through the Parliamentary website.
I trust that this comprehensive supporting evidence will satisfy the query raised by Sir Thomas.