The MPs' expenses crisis was the biggest scandal to hit modern British politics. It did immense damage to people's faith in politics, parliament and MPs. As a parliamentary candidate, I pledged that if elected I would post details of my expense claims online, every month. I also promised I would not claim expenses without a receipt or invoice.

I'm delighted that on this part of the website I can keep to the promises I made and publish all my expense claims. I hope that this will help to start re-build trust in politics and parliament, and give people confidence in their new MP.

To aid transparency I have provided this link to my present and former declarations of interest.

Since December 2011, and in accordance with my commitment given before the election I have resigned as Director of the business I started, and in addition transferred my shares to my wife who has been a full time employee of the company for 16 years.

With best wishes,

Nick


10 APR 2013

Message from Nick - indirect interest

As stated in the Register of Members' Interests, until December 2011 I had a registrable shareholding in Rapier Design Group Ltd. As well as registering direct financial interests in writing, MPs must also declare them verbally when speaking in debates or in communications that relate to those interests.

However, there is no provision for MPs to register indirect interests, such as those held by family members. The only requirement would be to declare them if they were relevant to proceedings in the Chamber, or to any communications with Ministers, other Members, public officials or public office holders.

Although I no longer have a registrable shareholding in Rapiergroup, my wife runs the company. On 28 March this year Rapiergroup recieved tender details on bidding to win a contract with UKTI. I therefore sought advice from the Parliamentary authorities. Although no further action was required from me as far as my entry in the Register was concerned, there would only be a need to make further declarations when speaking in debates or in communications that relate to UKTI.

However, I felt it would be better to go further than required and to place this statement on my website and therefore ensure that my indirect interest in Rapiergroup is openly in the public domain.

Best wishes,

Nick

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01 APR 2013

March 2013

Due to staffing changes, expenses for March have not been processed yet. As soon as they have, they will appear here as normal.

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19 MAR 2013

Declaration during debate

Today Nick held a debate in Westminster Hall on UKTI.

During the debate, Nick stated: "I count myself lucky, because there are Government Members present today—I welcome such a strong showing—who have witnessed the work of the Government after a career in business and are therefore qualified to fulfil the role of constructive friend. On that note, I remind the House that I spent 25 years in business, actively supporting SMEs and large corporations in their efforts to trade abroad, which involved working in the exhibition and events industry, which in turn involved working with trade associations and UKTI's predecessor, British Trade International. I remind the House that my wife runs the company that I was involved with, which still works with some trade associations, so I can put on the record both my experience and a declaration of interest."

As stated at the top of this section of the website, Nick's entries in the Register of Members' Interests can be found here.

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08 MAR 2013

February 2013

Staffing costs to be added were £12,346

Constituency Office:

Electricity Bill £170.02

BT Bill £75.96

Staff travel £43.90

Rent £708.33

Headed A4 paper £166

Window Cleaner x2 £22

Talk Talk Phone Bill £85.72

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How much headed A4 paper do you need?
- Jeremy

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06 FEB 2013

January 2013

Staffing totalled £12,021.88.

Annual Contents Insurance cover for constituency office £424

Constituency office rent £708.34

Constituency office Gas Bill £163.13

Headed note paper £42

Constituency Office phone bill £61.80

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03 JAN 2013

December 2012

Staffing totalled £11,271.

Constituency office rent £708.34

Constituency office Gas Bill £163.13

Constituency Office Talk Talk Line Rental £55.48

Constituency Office Buildings Insurance £73.24

Constituency Office Window Cleaner £11

Constituency Office toiletries £3

Staff Travel £27.50

 

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04 DEC 2012

November

Staffing: £12,021

Constituency office rent: £708.33

Constituency office Talk Talk phone Bill £51.72

Constituency office BT Line Rental £73.48

Constituency office Gas Bill £56.38

Constitueny office Cleaning Products £13.86

Staff Health and Safety Payment £200

Intern travel over 3 months £142.80

Staff Travel: £20.10

Room Booking for public meeting £100

 

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08 NOV 2012

October

Staff Salary: to be added £12,321

Constituency office:

Rent £708.33

Staff Travel £20.10

Line Rental £51.72

Bt Internet Bill £73.48

Gas Bill £56.38

Cleaning Products £13.86

Venue Hire for Public Meeting £100

Microphone for Public Meeting £50

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12 OCT 2012

September

Staffing: £12,021

Talk Talk line rental £54.74

Constituency office rent £708.34

Stationery order £260.31

New constituency office software system: £2515.63

Window Cleaner and Tissue for constituency office £14.50

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28 AUG 2012

August

Staffing totalled 12,199

Constituency office:

Rent - 708.33

Gas - 380.32

Landline Hire BT - 73.78

Talk Talk phone Bill - 64.06

Staff Travel costs - 34

Window cleaner - 22

Renewal of fee for the information commission - 35

Annaul office maintenance costs - 280.68

 

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13 AUG 2012

July 2012

Staffing: £12,174

Constituency Office:

Annual maintenance and repair = £280.68

Rent: £708.33

Gas Bill: £380.32

Phone Bill: £ 73.78

Parliamentary:

Hotel Accommodation for 2 nights whilst the House of Commons sat past mindnight  £300

Window Cleaning: £11

Flights to Cyprs for parliamentary delegation in May £120.45

Staff Travel £40

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02 JUL 2012

June

Staffing totalled: £12,022

Constituency Office Rent: £708.34, Window Cleaning: £11; Landline £69.55; Business cards £68.40;  Staff travel £15.80,

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18 JUN 2012

May

Staffing totalled £11,722

Constituency Office rent £708.33

Landline £ 56.94

MP Mobile phone bill £62.40

Vacuum Cleaner for Constituency Office £105.94

Business Cards £84

Stationery Purchase £6,20

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09 MAY 2012

April

Staffing - To be added £11,572.36

Business Rates for the year £2,728.11, Rent £708.53, Building Insurance £87.08

Constituency Office telephone £68.62

Constituency Office Gas Bill £259.30

Blackberry mobile phone Bill £62.40

Accommodation for late night sitting £150

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03 APR 2012

March

Staff costs totalled £9,884.67.

Constituency office: Talk Talk Phone Bill - £81.58, Rent - £708.34, Blinds for office - £240, Stationery order £111.

Parliamentary: Parliamentary Resource Unit annual subscription £3,960, Blackberry Bill £62.40.

Staffing costs to be added

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01 MAR 2012

February

Staff pay totalled £10,029.

Constituency office: Phone Bill - £86.15, Security need- installation of panic alarm and entry system £2,088.97, Stationery order £364.62, Rent - £708.33 and Business Rates £382

Blackberry phone Bill £62.40

Intern renumertaion £92.20

Contact cards £92.40

 

Staff salaries to be added

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08 FEB 2012

January

 Staff salaries totalled £10,174.

Constituency office: Business Rates - £382, Rent - £708.33, Landline Rental £73.75, Gas Bill £177.86 Contents insurance £425 Blackberry Bill £62.40

Security Measures for the constituency office: £2,088.37

 

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13 JAN 2012

December

Staff salaries totalled £9,799.

Constituency Office: Business Rates - £382, Rent - £708.33, Landline - £52.80

Advertising - Pop up Banner - £468

Intern Renumertion £81.90

Stationery purchse - £48.53

Staff Salary to be added.

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02 DEC 2011

November

Staff salaries totalled £9547.12. Staff Travel costs was £31

Constituency Office: Business Rates - £461; Cleaning products - £7.99; Window Cleaner - £11; Enfield Borough Refuse sacks for the year - £87.68 ; Rent - £708.33. Water Bill - £168.51

Blackberry - £62.40.

Landline Rental: £108.31 (Two months worth) Stationery – £76.80

Computer Monitor and Keyboards x2 £824.64

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02 NOV 2011

October

Staff Salaries were: £10,029

Constituency Office: Business Rates - £461; Rent - £708.33; Electricity Bills - £184.86; Phone Rental - £62.40 BT Internet - £81.76

Blackberry Bill - £62.40

Stationery - £113.71

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Thank you! for your transparency.
- R.Perera

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06 OCT 2011

September

Staff salaries totalled £9,884. Travel costs for intern was £22 and staff training course travel £15.

Constituency Office: Business Rates - £254; Cleaning products - £1.22; BT phone bill - £78.80; Office Fan: £39.96; Rent - £708.34.

Blackberry - £62.40.

Landline Rental: £54.16

Stationery – £425.36 (invoice for several previous months).

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05 SEP 2011

August

Staff salaries totalled £8,852.

Constituency Office Business Rates - £254; Cleaning products - £1.22; Hospitality - £3.00; Electricity - £183.94; Water - £96.13; BT phone bill - 78.80; Rent - £708.33.

Blackberry - £62.40.

Stationery – £444.50 (invoice for several previous months).

Fee to Information Commissioner (Data Protection) - £35.

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01 AUG 2011

July

Staff salaries were £8,705. Staff travel was £83.80.

Constituency Office: Business Rates – £254; Rent – £708.33; Electricity – £91.78; Landline – £57.62; Window cleaning – £22.

Blackberry bill: £62.40

Stationery: £246.27.

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06 JUL 2011

June

Salaries totalled £7890, staff travel £56.10. Blackberry bill was £62.40; stationery £88.36.

Constituency Office: Business Rates £254; Rent £708.33; Electricity £113.98; Cleaning items £3.25.

After a break-in, the following was spent on repairing the office: Door £416.27; Padlocks £30.56. (Nothing was stolen - it appears those breaking in did not realise it was simply an office and therefore contained nothing of value. The police were informed and other businesses in the area alerted).

Accommodation (In relation to the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, Travelodge for one night) – £31.

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Surely insurance should cover breaking repair work and not the tax payer
- George Adams

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01 JUN 2011

May

Staff salaries totalled £7848.35. Staff rail travel expenses £8.

Constituency office: Contents Insurance - £420, Rent - £708.33, Business Rates - £254, Landline and Broadband - £115.89, Water Bill - £30.60, Electricity Bill - £309.53.

Blackberry Bill – £62.64

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03 MAY 2011

April

Staff salaries totalled £8975. Staff rail travel expenses £56.

Constituency office: Gas - £247.68, telephone – £59.94, Rent – £708.34, Cleaning product – £1.60, Insurance – £420, Shredder purchase – £29.99, Stationery – £436.09.

Blackberry Bill – £114.59 (entire bill was £159.77 – claimed for 90% minus any international calls).

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01 APR 2011

March

Staffing costs for March totalled £9,410, plus travel costs of £56.00.

Constituency office: Business Rates £810.96; Rent £708.33; Cleaning product £1.60; Gas Bill £431.06; Landline £59.94; Stationery £59.32.

Blackberry £114.59 (entire bill was 159.77; Nick claimed for 90% minus international calls).

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01 MAR 2011

February

Staffing costs for February totalled £7,801, plus £38.50 for staff rail costs.

Stationery was £511.73, Blackberrybill was £274.18 of which only £133.36 was claimed. £158.75 was claimed for advertisements for the MP's Advice Surgery for constituents.

Constituency Office: Rent: £708.33; heating: £325.22; water: £146.42; Legal fee for property lease (invoiced this month): £881.25; waste disposal service: £47.00; landline (BT): £71.58; office equipment (computer cable): £9.99; hospitality (fairtrade tea, milk etc): £5.50.

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02 FEB 2011

January

Total staffing costs for January totalled £7946.05, plus £31 for staff rail travel.

Stationery was £546.44.

Blackberry bill was £217.27, of which £171.76 was claimed.

Advertising constituency advice surgeries cost £50.

Constituency Office: Office Equipment (computer cables): £50.78; rent: £708.33; Telephone Line Rental (BT): £71.58; Waste Disposal Service: £47.00.

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14 JAN 2011

December

Staffing costs totalled £7,938 in December.

Blackberry bill was £159.44, of which £143.50 (90%) was claimed.

Stationery: £31.64.

Hospitality (claimed for refreshments for meeting with local press representatives): £25.00

Constituency Office Setting Up

Removals/Painting; £916.50, phone Line Setup (TalkTalk); £115.68, Carpet Installation/Hardware; £225.79; Commercial Waste Service/Cleaning Products: £73.56; office rent: £1350.70.

The new office officially opened on Friday 14 January.

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13 DEC 2010

November

Staffing costs in November totalled £8,588.

My bill for my MP's blackberry was £128.67, for which I claimed 90% so £115.80.

There were no other expense claims submitted.

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01 NOV 2010

October

Staffing costs in October totalled £8,929.

Stationery expenses amounted to £31.93.

The bill for my MP's Blackberry was £136.30, for which a claim for £122.67 was submitted.

The constituency office spent £3.60 on hospitality (milk etc), plus there was staff costs of £28.80 (travel), £5.50 (car parking), and £5.50 (postage).

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Sir, It is commendable to see you publish your expenses. As a constituent who did vote for you in the last election (and your unsuccessful campaign previously), I would like the ask the following: I note your staffing costs of £8,929 for September. Would you kindly give a breakdown of this please, detailing how this is paid? I.E. To how many people? For what roles? Also, why were staffing costs only £3,714 in June (perhaps you had not employed your complete team by then, so shortly after the election), but £8,929 in September. Lastly, I see a month on month rise in staffing costs, albeit in small amounts. What does the monthly increase from July to October cover? Thanking you. Yours faithfully, MB
- Mark Baron

Thank you for your support Mark. Staffing costs have risen as I have now managed to employ a full team, which I didn't have in June. I employ four staff - two are locals employed in the constituency office, and two in Westminster. I don't think it would be appropriate to make public what each staff member earns; this wouldn't be fair to my staff to have their wages made public. What is made clear is the total amount claimed from the taxpayer for staffing, and I think this is the right thing to do.
- Nick

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01 OCT 2010

September

Staffing costs in September totalled £7,655.

Stationery expenses amounted to £98.63.

The bill for my MP's Blackberry was £291.26, for which a claim for £58.62 (£52.00 rental and £6.82 calls) was submitted.

The constituency office spent £5.19 on hospitality (milk etc).

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31 AUG 2010

August

Staff salaries amounted to £7,141.

Stationery costs were £14.97.

I also claimed for the £35.00 fee payable to the Information Commissioner's Office under the Data Protection Act.

The bill for my blackberry was £89.10, for which I claimed £80.19 (I only claim for 90% of the bill to allow for 10% personal calls).

Nick

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31 JUL 2010

July

Staff salaries amounted to £6168.

Stationery costs totalled £84.66.

The bill for my blackberry was £103.92, of which I claimed £93.53.

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30 JUN 2010

June

During June a claim of £65 was made for a taxi from the House of Commons for a return to Enfield after a late night sitting ending after 11pm. The taxi was shared with David Burrowes MP for Enfield Southgate.

£212.13 was spent on stationery.

Monthly staffing costs for June will be published in July. Staffing costs for June amounted to £3,714. I also claimed for a subscription to the Parliamentary Resources Unit, which instead of all 650 MPs hiring researchers allows for us to share a team of "pooled" researchers. The annual subscription is £3,887.50.

My blackberry bill was £64.63, for which I claimed £58.17 (I only claim for 90% of the bill to allow for 10% personal calls).

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A very reasonable amount
- Alfred Molinari

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29 MAY 2010

May

I can confirm that no expense claims were submitted for the month of May, except for my blackberry which all MPs are supplied with. The bill was £40.74, of which I claimed £36.66 (I only claim 90% of the bill to allow for 10% personal calls).

Once staffing arrangments for the constituency and parliamentary offices have been completed a statement of total staff costs will be published.

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