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Details of Welsh MPs' expenses claims over the past four years have been among those obtained and published by The Daily Telegraph. Some of them have also released details themselves. Here is a summary of the reported claims made by Welsh Liberal Democrat MPs, and their reactions, before their official release by the House of Commons authorities. You can also click on the tabs above for details about MPs from other parties in Wales.
LEMBIT OPIK, MONTGOMERYSHIRE
Claim: The Telegraph reported that Lembit Opik had to pay £2,499 from his own pocket for a 42-inch plasma television after his claim for the set was refused, since it was purchased while Parliament was dissolved.
In May 2006, Mr Opik also claimed back a £40 summons for non-payment of council tax at his second home. The Telegraph also said that last year he claimed £12,655 for extensive renovation at his London flat. In a note to the Fees Office Mr Opik said the flat was "turning into a bit of a maintenance disaster" and that he tried to minimise the cost of the work with builders "coming down from the north, and staying in my flat to save more money". Response: The Montgomeryshire MP has strongly criticised the Telegraph and other news organisations for the way the expenses row has been covered. On the refurbishment, he said: "This was the first major repair work done on the property in the 11 years since I'd moved in and dealt with damp, dilapidation, and many other issues." He has paid back the £40 for the summons.
MARK WILLIAMS, CEREDIGION
Claim: The Telegraph found little to comment on in the details leaked to them of his expenses, noting only that the Ceredigion MP claimed up to £1,300 per month to rent a flat in London as his second home, but went on to say he made few other claims under the additional costs allowance. Response: Mark Williams has opened his books to local newspapers.
ROGER WILLIAMS, BRECON AND RADNORSHIRE
Claim: The Telegraph says the MP for Brecon and Radnorshire claimed £1,200 per month in rent for a flat in London as well as for food, utilities and cleaning. Response: He has not yet published full details of his expenses. On his website he explained that most of his expenses relate to staffing and travel, and that living more than 170 miles from London meant that he had to have a second home.
JENNY WILLOTT, CARDIFF CENTRAL
Claim: The Telegraph reported that Jenny Willott claimed up to £1,500 per month to live in a flat in London as her second home. She is also reported to have been reimbursed £519 for a sofa, £933.50 for a bed and £850 for a mattress. Response: The Cardiff Central MP said publishing "every last receipt" was the best way to prevent future expenses scandals and that she would be doing so in due course.
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