Transparency

General Expenditure Allowances
Auditors Report available click here

Staffing allowance

I am allowed approximately £205,000 a year (on the current exchange rate with the Euro) to be spent assisting me in my duties.

This allowance will be paid directly to chartered accountants in Birmingham who will pay my staff directly, deducting all relevant tax and National Insurance payments. At no time will I have access to a penny of this money.

Current appointments
Office Manager and Graphic Designer.
Manager representing my interests in the West Midlands.
Political Assistant.
Political Researcher.
Communications Advisor.
Personal Assistant and Data Manager.
Assistant for National Media and Press coverage.
Office Assistant.
Parliamentary Advisor.
Public Relations Advisor.
Paying Agents and Chartered Accountants.

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General Expenditure from January to June 2010
As specified in Article 28 of the EU regulations

• Office management and running costs, in particular rent and related charges (heating, lighting, insurance and cleaning): £9,715.53
• The cost of purchasing or renting office equipment: £3,466.38
• Telephone, including mobile telephone, and postal charges: £3,976.36
• The cost of purchasing office supplies and stationery: £2,292.68
• The cost of purchasing books, periodicals and newspapers: £223.38
• The cost of using public data consultation networks: £35.00
• The expenses involved in equipping Members with communications equipment and maintaining that equipment, for example the purchase or rental of a telephone, a fax machine, a computer, a modem or communications card, a printer, other IT equipment, computer peripherals and software packages £1,175.47
• The cost of a subscription to the Internet and to databases: £435.29
• Representation activities: £11,809.62
• Hotel bills and other related expenses incurred in travelling in a Member’s Member State of election: £463.26

Total General Expenditure January to June 2010: £33,592.77

The above figures are subject to checks by auditors at the end of the financial year.

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General Expenditure Allowance up to 31 December 2009
As specified in Article 28 of the EU regulations

• Office management and running costs, in particular rent and related charges (heating, lighting, insurance and cleaning): £5,555
• The cost of purchasing or renting office equipment: £4,111
• Telephone, including mobile telephone, and postal charges: £4,666
• The cost of purchasing office supplies and stationery: £130
• The cost of purchasing books, periodicals and newspapers: £270
• The cost of using public data consultation networks: £147
• The expenses involved in equipping Members with communications equipment and maintaining that equipment, for example the purchase or rental of a telephone, a fax machine, a computer, a modem or communications card, a printer, other IT equipment, computer peripherals and software packages £3,848
• The cost of a subscription to the Internet and to databases: £136
• Representation activities: £10,814
• Hotel bills and other related expenses incurred in travelling in a Member’s Member State of election: £2,815

Total General Expenditure: £32,492

Total General Expenditure Allowance received from the EU: £22,039
This payment is received by every UK MEP from the EU regardless of their expenditure for this period.

None of my family members are employed by me.

Travel to and from the European Parliament

14 Journeys to Brussels.

5 Journeys to Strasbourg.

Daily Subsistence Allowance

A fixed allowance of €298 is paid for every day attended at the European Parliament to all MEP's.

Number of days attended in the European Parliament 47.

Days Working in the UK - West Midlands Region 73.

Due to Nikki's extensive work and committment to the National and Local Elections this year, the completion of Nikki's General Expenditure Allowance Accounts for the beginning of 2010 have been delayed until the end of June when she is pleased to announce they will be available to view on this website.

By the way the EU accounts haven't been passed by the auditors for 15 years.