Sharon Bowles MEP Expenses

It is important for MEPs to be as transparent as possible when it comes to how we spend the public money we claim in the course of fulfilling our duties. Below I have detailed how much money I've claimed over the past year in the course of the work I do as an MEP for the South East, and how I've spent it.

My accounts are prepared and certified by Harts Chartered Accountants of 3 Churchgates, Church Lane, Berkhamsted HP4 2UB.

Salaries

MEPs receive salaries under the new Member's Statute. When this was introduced it was similar to an MP's salary, but is currently higher due to the devaluation of Sterling. The UK requires MEPs to pay a top up tax because the Community tax rate is less that the UK rate.

I employ two full time staff and one intern in Brussels and three full time and two part time staff (average one and one and a half days a week respectfully) in the UK. Brussels based staff handle legislative work and related press. UK staff handle constituency work, correspondence, press and literature. I do not and have never employed a member of my family.

The details of current staff (and vacancies if any), and where they are located, are under the 'contact details' section of my website.

Basic salaries are in a range of £18,000 to £28,000 per annum depending upon experience. Expenses for necessary travel and accommodation are paid in addition.

I am a member of the European Parliament's voluntary pension scheme.

All my UK staff and my Brussels intern are paid via an independent paying agent, Janet Hart, a professional book-keeper running a wages bureau, who obtains the necessary funds from the European Parliament on a monthly basis, remits tax and national insurance and completes an annual return to the European Parliament. My full time Brussels staff are paid directly by the European Parliament.

General Expenditure

The general expenditure allowance was fixed at about £36,000 in 2008. This supports my UK offices, incidentals for the Brussels office (postage, stationery) and travel in the UK. A typical outline of how this is spent by budget lines is below. General expenditure receipts for all items worth in excess of £25 are ready for inspection when necessary. Any overspend is absorbed by me personally. Expenses (in £) for 2008:

• Travel and ancillary (including conferences): £11,994

• Office running costs: £6,873

• Office equipment: £300

• Telephones: £2,755

• Postage: £4,907

• Office supplies: £2,128

• IT hardware, software and maintenance: £9,142

Total: £38,099

Allowance received: £34,754

Daily allowance

I claim the fixed daily allowance of about £180 for an average of 4 days a week for the 40 weeks when Parliament is sitting. This covers the costs of my accomodation of Brussels and Strasbourg. Attendance and voting is necessary to support this claim and no allowance is paid for constituency days.

Travel allowance

Travel to Brussels and Strasbourg is reimbursed at the fixed Parliamentary rates for flexible economy travel. I have not drawn down any of the additional foreign travel allowance and have covered extra costs actually incurred out of the fixed payments.

For a full copy of my expenses (2008) please visit the Download Area of the website. The expenses for 2009 will be placed online as soon as they become available.