MP Anne Main ordered to make repayment in expenses probe (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

St Albans MP must repay a claim made in second home allowance

1:33pm Wednesday 14th October 2009 in News By Manisha Mistry

Anne Main: "Now this error has been brought to light, the money will, of course, be repaid."

ST ALBANS MP Anne Main has been ordered to repay a service charge for her second home which she claimed for twice.

Sir Thomas Legg reviewed the Additional Costs Allowance and revealed yesterday that Mrs Main was not required to pay back any of her claims, but was ordered to produce her mortgage documents.

However today Mrs Main released another statement which says: “In my statement yesterday, I said that I was seeking clarification regarding a half-yearly service charge in respect of my second home.

“Upon investigation, it appears that an invoice for half-yearly service charge of £463.59 for the first six months of 2007 was double-invoiced and paid twice, which of course is incorrect.

  “Obviously, this was an accounting error, which was not spotted at the time, and I was totally unaware of it. Now this error has been brought to light, the money will, of course, be repaid. I am grateful to Sir Thomas Legg for pointing out this anomaly.”

The St Albans MP remains under investigation for the legality of her claims by John Lyon, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.