8. LETTER
TO
RT
HON
JACQUI
SMITH
MP FROM
HEAD
OF
VALIDATION
AND
ENQUIRY
& ADVICE
TEAMS,
DEPARTMENT
OF
FINANCE
AND
ADMINISTRATION,
HOUSE
OF
COMMONS,
11 JULY
2007
NOMINATION OF
MAIN RESIDENCE
- ADDITIONAL COSTS
ALLOWANCE 2007/08
Thank you for your letter, dated 19 June 2007, regarding
the nomination of your main residence under the Additional Costs
Allowance.
The Members' Green Book on Parliamentary Salaries,
Allowances and Pensions states "your
main home will normally be a matter of fact".
This, however, is not always the case so the Green Book provides
a further definition of your main home as "the
one where you spend more nights than any other"
(p11, section 3.11.1).
I can confirm therefore that the location of a Member's
main home may not always be where their family reside. I agree
with your assertion that is reasonable to continue to claim the
allowance against your constituency home given your ministerial
responsibilities require you to spend the majority of your time
in Westminster.
Should your circumstances change please do not hesitate
to contact us for further advice as any change in the location
of your main home may have wider implications for your travel
arrangements.
11 July 2007
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