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Nothing to hide over communications
As Parliament moves to legislate on MPs' expenses and behaviour, putting us in a category all of our own, let me say a word about the Communications Allowance (CA) which Parliament instigated a couple of years ago.
I use that allowance to the full; people want to be kept informed of developments in the issues that interest them. They have a right to be told. I receive many emails thanking me for keeping people informed.
The CA is 10,400 a year but we can transfer available funds from our staffing or office costs budget into it – which is why mine was 17,315 in 2007-08. Newsletters paid for from the CA have to be approved as 'not party political' and follow strict rules.
I am one of Parliament's biggest users of the Royal Mail because I am an active MP who receives and replies to more letters than most. Local newspapers have highlighted this in the past; I have nothing to hide.
The rules do not allow us to use the pre-paid House of Commons Royal Mail envelopes for the CA so some publications are posted out using another company. They are still delivered by Royal Mail staff but at a lower cost to the taxpayer. For other newsletters I use the Royal Mail's own (unstamped, unaddressed) delivery service.
When the CA first came in I used a firm of communications consultants for a few months to advise me on how best to use it, to help write copy and provide stationery.
Some of them used to work for the Labour Party. Their services were approved by the Parliamentary authorities. Innuendo reported as comment on this issue is out of order.
Any constituent who would like a detailed regular email updates on my activities should send me an email to tomlevittmp@parliament.uk. Please put 'Please keep me up to date' in the subject line.
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Weather for Buxton
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light snow
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