Clause 82 - European travel expenses of MPs and other representatives
Finance Bill
10:15 am
Mr Michael Jack (Fylde, Conservative)
If I were the Minister, I might answer those questions. Sadly, I am on this side of the Room and not the other. I am sure that the Treasury has heard, as was mentioned at the beginning of the debate on this clause, that this is a resolution of the House. I am surprised that the hon. Gentleman, coming from the party that purports to be in favour and strongly supportive of the European Union, should even have to ask such questions. I am sure that he is familiar with resolutions of the House about the way in which expenses are provided for travel to European institutions as defined by the clause. The expenses that we are allowed to claim for are closely defined, as is the number of journeys that we can claim for in any one year. It is not completely open to us to travel where and when we want or to see anyone we want. The terms of the travel allowance and expenses provision are closely defined by the House.