Sheffield MPs defend £10,000 offer to cover coronavirus home working expenses

MPs have been told they can claim up to £10,000 more in expenses to cover the cost of home working during the coronavirus crisis.
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The money – in addition to the £26,000 already available to cover office costs – can be used to fund equipment like laptops and printers for staff having to work from home.

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The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) said it was ‘committed to supporting MPs and their staff to carry on with their work as far as possible’ during the pandemic.

Gill Furniss, MP for Sheffield Brightside and HillsboroughGill Furniss, MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
Gill Furniss, MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
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The announcement has unsurprisingly led to criticism from some quarters that MPs are getting extra money to cover their expenses while other workers are being furloughed, facing pay cuts or being expected to adjust to home working with little in the way of financial assistance.

But MPs in South Yorkshire have defended the £10,000 ‘contingency budget’, insisting it will help ensure they and their staff can continue to support people at a time when their help is needed more than ever.

Miriam Cates, Conservative MP for Penistone & Stocksbridge, said: “The rules and allocations for MPs’ budgets are set by IPSA, not MPs or the Government.

“The extra funding is for office costs, to allow me and my staff to continue to help my constituents across Penistone and Stocksbridge at a time when many peple desperately need my assistance.

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“None of this additional money is paid directly to me and it will only cover additional office expenditure like making sure my staff are equipped from home. Any money not needed will not be spent.”

Gill Furniss. Labour MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, said: “The additional £10,000 is a contingency budget for office equipment so my staff can continue to provide the assistance, support and advice to many people during this difficult time whilst they are working remotely. Any money from this amount will only be used if it is necessary and will be accounted for.”

Employees working from home can claim up to £124 a year back from HMRC for increased costs including heating and electricity without having to keep receipts, according to MoneySavingExpert’s Martin Lewis.