House of Lords: Members' Reimbursement Allowances Scheme Explanatory Notes 2007/08

| Eligibility to claim | Attendance | Financial Years |

Table Columns: 1. Main Residence | 2. Number of Days Attended | 3. Overnight Subsistence | 4. Day Subsistence | 5. Office Costs | 6. Travelling Expenses | 7. Free Postage Costs | 8. Ministers' Secretarial Expenses | 9. IT Equipment | 10. PDA Equipment |

Eligibility to claim

  1. Members of the House of Lords (except those in receipt of a salary as a Minister, Office Holder or Lord of Appeal in Ordinary), are entitled to recover travel, subsistence and office costs incurred in connection with their Parliamentary duties.

  2. Ministers and Office Holders are able to recover Secretarial Expenses incurred in respect of their Parliamentary duties. In addition, the Lord Speaker, Chairman of Committees, the Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees, Leader of the Opposition and Opposition Chief Whip may be reimbursed personal travelling expenses from home to the House of Lords. The Lord Speaker, Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Committees are also eligible for an allowance paid by the House with salary for the costs of maintaining a second home in London for the purposes of attending the House. Ministers who are unpaid are entitled to reclaim their expenses under category A.

Attendance

Expenses payable to Members within category A above are linked to attendance at:

Costs incurred in respect of an attendance at any other meeting, whether held at Westminster or not, can only be recovered if related to mandated Parliamentary business. In most cases these costs are met directly by the House but where Members have reclaimed their expenses they are included in the tables.

Financial Years

All figures shown relate to expenses incurred during the period 1st April 2007 to 31st March 2008, the financial year on which the House's annual accounts are based. Ministers and Officeholders Secretarial Expenses, and other Members Office costs incurred on days when the House is not sitting, are subject to an annual maximum based on the year from 1st August to 31st July. Patterns of expenditure over the financial year may not align with those based on an August to July year. This can result in total claims over the financial year exceeding the annual maximum, for example if a Member makes a single claim for the maximum amount in April and the following March.

Column 1: Main Residence

This column shows the location of the Members main residence, by county or equivalent region. Entries in this column are voluntary.

Column 2: Number of Days Attended

The number of days attended reflects the official record of those days when a Member attended a sitting of the House at which public business took place, or at a select committee of the House meeting at Westminster. Judicial business is not classified as public business. Days on which a Member has worked on parliamentary business without attending a public sitting of the House or a committee at Westminster are not included in the total, nor are days on which a Member has travelled on Parliamentary business or as a Member of a Parliamentary delegation or a select committee.

Column 3: Overnight Subsistence

Members whose main residence is outside Greater London may claim for expenses of overnight accommodation in London while away from their only or main residence. A Member whose main residence is outside Greater London and who maintains a residence in London for the purpose of attending sittings of the House may claim this allowance towards the cost of maintaining such a residence.

Maximum amounts payable for each day of attendance:

1st April 2007 - 31st July 2007 £159.50
1st August 2007 - 31st March 2008 £165.50

Maintenance Allowance for a second home

Members are also able to claim expenses under this heading whilst away from London, on select committee, parliamentary delegation or certain other official visits, if they maintain a second residence in London for the purposes of attending sittings of the House. Expenses claimed under this heading are included in the Overnight Subsistence column.

Maximum amounts payable for each day away from London:

1st April 2007 - 31st July 2007 £106.50
1st August 2007 - 31st March 2008 £110.50

Column 4: Day Subsistence

This allowance is intended to cover such items as the cost of meals and incidental travel not separately recoverable. Maximum amount payable for each day of attendance:

1st April 2007 - 31st July 2007 £79.50
1st August 2007 - 31st March 2008 £82.50

Column 5: Office Costs

Members may recover certain office costs including the cost of secretarial help, research assistance and where appropriate the cost of providing necessary equipment, together with the cost of certain additional expenses (e.g. domestic costs, purchase of books, periodicals, and professional subscription charges that arise out of parliamentary duties).

Maximum amount payable for each day of attendance:

1st April 2007 - 31st July 2007 £69.00
1st August 2007 - 31st March 2008 £71.50

In addition:

  1. Office costs incurred on days when the House is not sitting or a Member does not attend may be claimed up to an additional 40 days per year (1st August - 31st July).

  2. Members are able to claim expenses incurred under this heading whilst away from the House on select committee, parliamentary delegation or certain other official visits

Columns 6a-c: Travelling Expenses

Members may recover the costs of fares incurred in travelling between their principal residence and Westminster for the purpose of attending a sitting of the House, or (subject to the limits set out below) the costs of travel by private car, motorcycle or bicycle.

Motor Mileage allowance

40p per mile up to 10,000 miles in the year ending 31st March
25p per mile for mileage in excess of 10,000 miles in the same year

Motorcycle Allowance

24p per mile

Bicycle allowance

20p per mile

Column 6a

Attendance Travel Costs

Expenses incurred in travelling between a Member's principal residence and Westminster for the purpose of attending sittings of the House.

Column 6b

UK Travel

In addition to the normal travel arrangements, the cost of journeys made on parliamentary business elsewhere within the United Kingdom may also be recovered.

Column 6c

European Travel

Members are able to recover the costs of two return journeys per year, travelling on parliamentary duties, between the United Kingdom and any European Union Institution in Brussels, Luxembourg or Strasbourg or the national parliament of a European Union state or candidate country.

Travel costs within columns 6a to 6c have been further analysed by mode of transport. As ferry and coach costs are minimal, they have been included under rail costs.

Column 7: Free Postage Costs

Prepaid envelopes and postcards are available for use by Members for correspondence on House of Lords business. The costs shown include the postage and envelope costs.

Column 8: Ministers' Secretarial Expenses

Ministers and other paid Office Holders are able to recover expenses for secretarial assistance certified as incurred by them in the performance of their Parliamentary duties.

Maximum amounts payable:

1st April 2007 - 31st July 2007 £5,192pa
1st August 2007 - 31st March 2008 £5,389pa

Column 9: IT Equipment

Members are entitled to the loan of up to two PC s (one desktop, one laptop or two laptops) and a printer for use on Parliamentary business. IT equipment is replaced every three years. The costs of a broadband installation and line rental are also paid by the House.

Column 10: PDA Equipment

Members are entitled to the loan of one personal digital assistant device (PDA) for use on Parliamentary business. Line rental, data usage on official parliamentary business within the UK and up to £10 per month of voice and additional overseas data costs are borne by the House.

Further Information

Links to House of Commons Members' Allowances and further related links are available on the main Members' Allowances for both Houses page.