Parliamentary Standards Authority

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister – in the House of Commons at 12:31 pm on 20 May 2009.

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Photo of Harriet Harman Harriet Harman Chair, Modernisation of the House of Commons Committee, Minister of State (Government Equalities Office), The Leader of the House of Commons , Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee, Party Chair, Labour Party, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party 12:31, 20 May 2009

That figure was decided yesterday at the Members Estimate Committee meeting, the Committee on Members' Allowances having looked at the average among different Members so that we could ensure that we lowered the amount, but we did that in the knowledge of the current situation for Members with regard to their obligations.

There is a particular issue for Members who entered the House in 2005 and had to take out quite big mortgages in order to find accommodation, because the property market was absolutely at its height, and who now find themselves with properties that they cannot put on the market. The intention was to get a situation that reduced the amount that could be spent on the mortgage but also recognised the circumstances of those who have recently come into the House.

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Ian Ripsher
Posted on 23 May 2009 5:54 am (Report this annotation)

Hmmm. Would that there were the same safety net for Joe Public.