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MP's eight laptops on expenses
ROTHERHAM MP Denis MacShane claimed expenses for eight new laptop computers over just three years.
House of Commons paperwork show that the former Europe Minister claimed over 5,900 for the equipment for his office staff.
He also claimed 212 for a hand-held computer and three digital cameras worth around 300 each.
Since all MPs expenses claims were made public it has also emerged the Labour MP has claimed more than 8,000 for "research and translation" services carried out by a firm owned by his brother, Edmund Matyjaszek.
Mr MacShane said he needed so many computers so his staff have the most up-to-date technology available to help them perform their jobs.
He said: "I did not come into politics to manage budgets, supplies, staffing etc, and I am the first to acknowledge this has not had the important and detailed attention which with hindsight I now realise I should have provided.
"I spend a lot of time travelling and am on the road a lot, so like others in similar roles, computers, mobile phones and BlackBerrys are an absolute necessity and are in constant use seven days a week.
"In both my offices I employ permanent and part-time staff. Since 1994, I have always had one full-time constituency assistant in Rotherham as well as other part-time employees.
"I also have interns and researchers in my offices, and most of the equipment purchased has been for their use and to ensure I have fully functioning offices.
"Camera, computer and phone technology is ever-changing and I have sought to use the annual office costs allowance to maximise the technological opportunities for me and my staff to deal with a very demanding workload."
In total Mr MacShane has claimed 125,000 over the past seven years.
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