Books open on MPs' travel

The generous subsidies paid to former and current long-serving MPs for private travel overseas are set to come under greater focus under a new regime of transparency for parliamentary spending.

As from yesterday, the cost of each member of Parliament, including spousal travel, will be published every quarter.

Act's Sir Roger Douglas, Parliament's most vocal campaigner against wasteful spending of taxpayers' money, was among the highest-spending non-ministers.

Part of his $44,411 travel bill was down to a trip that he and his wife took to London to see their son and grandchildren.

The taxpayer pays 90 per cent of the airfare under long-standing entitlements.

He said it was not all a holiday but that it was "largely a private trip".

He defended the subsidy on the basis that it was granted to MPs by the Remuneration Authority a long time ago in lieu of big pay rises.

"That was the trade-off they made at the time. They said less wage increases to MPs and they gave us certain entitlements. Go and ask Helen Clark.

"I spent some time with my son and grandchildren."

When asked if the taxpayer had paid for him to be with his family, Sir Roger said: "Listen, my friend. This is a right that Helen Clark has, Jim Bolger. It is something I would have been able to do whether I was an MP or not."

Act's questions in Parliament yesterday criticising rising Government spending were asked by John Boscawen, not Sir Roger.

Sir Roger's travel to London was paid from the $11 million budgeted in this financial year to pay for all travel for MPs and spouses, and former MPs and spouses.

There is no published estimate of how much those entitlements for former MPs have or will cost or any breakdown of how the $11 million is expected to be spent. The Herald has requested the figures from Parliamentary Service, Parliament's administrators.

Regular disclosures of MPs' spending were promised yesterday by Speaker Lockwood Smith, prompted by the recent expenses scandal in Britain.

But Parliament will still not be under any obligation to publish the information and Dr Smith has no desire to place Parliament under the Official Information Act.

Spending by ministers is subject to the act and more detail of spending information can be sought.

Prime Minister John Key released ministerial spending figures yesterday but they are additional to the parliamentary expenditure.

Nelson MP Nick Smith clocked up a $20,310 domestic travel bill as an MP, which is separate from his $22,886 domestic travel bill as a Cabinet minister.

Asked last night why his travel costs were so high, he said through a spokesman that it was because his wife and children travelled with him often. He has two stepchildren in Wellington and two children in Nelson.

MPs and their spouses have unlimited domestic air travel and unlike ministerial travel, the purpose of their travel does not have to be work-related.

Not counting Labour leader Phil Goff, Labour's Chris Carter was the highest spending non-minister at $82,410, of which $57,137 was on air travel.

Labour's Trevor Mallard defended it on the grounds that Mr Carter as foreign affairs spokesman had travelled to China, Britain, the United States and Canada representing Labour.

Mr Carter, as an MP elected before 1999, used his subsidy entitlement for the trip.

* The cost of ministers in their capacity as members of Parliament (separate from ministerial spending):

Paula Bennett $1726, Gerry Brownlee $5437, David Carter $14,532, John Carter $22,447, Jonathan Coleman $6756, Judith Collins $6873, Bill English $14,573, Phil Heatley $6923, Steven Joyce $5235, John Key $5174, Wayne Mapp $6448, Murray McCully $6112, Simon Power $1723, Tony Ryall $8093, Lockwood Smith $69,692, Nick Smith $20,781, Georgina te Heuheu $14,440, Anne Tolley $10,919, Kate Wilkinson $3608, Maurice Williamson $10,274, Pansy Wong $2733.

THE PERKS

FOR PRESENT AND FORMER MPS ELECTED BEFORE 1999
* After nine years - 60 per cent discount.
* After 12 years - 75 per cent discount.
* After 15 years - 90 per cent discount.
* Annual maximum equivalent to Air NZ business-class ticket to London (about $10,000). Applies to ex-MPs only.

PRESENT MPS
* Unlimited domestic travel for MPs and spouse.
* Basic salary of $131,000.
* $14,800 in allowances for incidentals, no receipts.
* Up to $24,000 for Wellington accommodation (rent, board, hotel or mortgage interest).
* Up to $160 for out-of-Wellington accommodation if on parliamentary business, or $180 in Auckland.
* Unlimited travel for children under 5 and four trips to Wellington for children or step-children.