Members: Allowances

Mr. Maude
To ask the Leader of the House how much has been spent under the communications allowance in each year since it was established.

Barbara Keeley
The communications allowance—renamed the communications expenditure on 1 April 2009—was established on 1 April 2007. Since then, the following amounts have been spent in each financial year:

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|       |Amount (£000)|
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|2007-08|4,699        |
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|2008-09|5,126        |
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Mr. Maude
To ask the Leader of the House when she plans to introduce proposals to amend controls on the communications allowance payable to hon. Members to take into account the pre-candidacy spending limits introduced by the Political Parties and Elections Bill.

Barbara Keeley
My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to bring forward the necessary amendments after the summer adjournment.