Harriett Baldwin MP this week continued her commitment to having ‘transparent expenses’ with the publication of expenses approved by the independent watchdog. The MP for West Worcestershire welcomed the publication and commented: “Following the election of a new Parliament, an independent watchdog was appointed to set budgets for MPs and to approve and publish their expenses.” “Complete transparency is an important step towards re-gaining the confidence of the public in the work we do representing our constituents in Westminster.” The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority will this week publish all MPs latest expenses and these documents will also be made available on Harriett’s website at www.harriettbaldwin.com. Harriett Baldwin added: “Over the course of the first seven months working as a Member of Parliament I have opened an office at Malvern Hills Science Park for the convenience of constituents. The monthly rent, phone line, council tax, surgery rental and so on are set against a budget of £10,663. “I have a £10,394 annual budget for stationery, web support, office equipment, furniture, legal services and so on. Like many offices our main costs are paper and printer toner cartridges as my team sends out on average 200 letters to constituents and other bodies each week. “I have held weekly surgeries across the constituency and these have been attended by several hundred people. I drive between 300 and 400 miles each week. This is both constituency travel over a large area and a 274 mile round trip from the constituency to Westminster each week when Parliament is sitting. “The other major annual budget item is £10,866 to maintain a second home and I have claimed for contributions to my rent, council tax, heat, electricity and insurance. “Most weeks I am required to stay at the House of Commons until late in the evening to vote and we are allowed to claim up to £15 each to cover subsistence costs for late sittings. I have only had to claim this allowance a handful of times. ” The detailed expenses list for every MP will be available for full scrutiny on the IPSA website.