44. LETTER
TO
RT
HON
JACQUI
SMITH
MP FROM
THE
COMMISSIONER,
28 APRIL
2009
Thank you very much for your letter of 23 April responding
to mine of 3 April about this complaint in respect of the expenses
claim you made for film items.
I was most grateful to receive your explanation.
I note that you have decided to repay the allowances for all the
Virgin Media charges except those relating to basic broadband
and, I assume, telephone line rental. There are, however, two
further points on which I would welcome your help. I need first
to know whether when paying back the cost of all your television
services for the financial year 2008-09, you have done so because
you considered all the claims for these services were in breach
of the rules or, if not, which of the services, including the
film items, you consider were claimed for in breach of the rules
in that financial year.
Secondly, I need to know what claims, if any, you
have made for film and television services in each financial year
from 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2008 and which of these, if any,
you consider were claimed for in breach of the rules.
The reason I need this information is that I will
need to come to a view on the extent of the breach of the rules
in respect of these claims before I decide how best to resolve
the complaint.
Once I have received your response, I am likely to
consult the Department of Resources for their advice on the interpretation
of the rules and on the actions you have taken to resolve the
position. I may also need to ask them for copies of your claim
forms.
I would be very grateful for your further help on
this matter.
28 April 2009
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