I assume the Telegraph is giving £950 as the top monthly amount because they've got the specific detail straight from the House of Commons Fees Office information that started all the coverage in the first place.

And ultimately, transparency and fairness IS important when you're dealing with public money. It might be cheaper to appoint a chum to a job because they're a perfectly splendid and capable type and its saves the money for advertising and talking to loads of other people, but it's neither demonstrably fair nor transparent. Renting a room off a chum or family member, needs to pass a market test and allow other potential landlords their chance to quote a lower price and save the public's money.

MPs or Benefit Claimants, they all need to show they're making lawful use of our money.


Georgina