Statement concerning Daily Telegraph article of 9 July 2009.
Following the Daily Telegraph claims concerning my use of MP's Additional costs allowance for cleaning, I reconfirm my position that my claims were made within the law and the rules of the second home allowance scheme.
The article makes no specific allegation of my having done anything wrong however it makes innuendos such as, "It is likely to lead to questions about whether the taxpayer was subsidising the child care costs."
To back up its claims the article refers to one of the cleaners, Ms G, whom it says advertised on a website called 'Newaupair.com'. We have never previously heard of such a website. Ms G replied to an advert placed by my wife on a website for cleaners. I also understand from Ms G that the advert was placed on Newaupair.com after October 2007 when she started working for us. I was interested to see that the advert mentions caring for several children in different families but even though the advert was placed after October 2007 she does not mention caring for our children. Ms G did not mention our children as she only worked for us as a cleaner. Ms G has now signed a written statement that she was employed by us from October 2007 to November 2008 only as a cleaner at our constituency home in Huntingdon.
The article also misrepresents the amount claimed for cleaning over a four year period by mentioning the highest single monthly payment. A fairer representation would be to note that claims averaged at £65 per week.
Accusations and inaccuracies apart the position during the period when I was claiming was as follows:
I employed a single cleaner (although different people over the four years) in Huntingdon. This cleaner was provided with free board by me seven days per week. The cleaner lived in my London home from Monday to Thursday, when they did not work for me and I made no second home allowance claims.
The cleaner then traveled to my constituency (second) home in Huntingdon and worked as a cleaner from Friday to Sunday. The cleaner lived in my Huntingdon home during this time. I made no claims in respect of their free board and lodging. However, I did claim an average of £65 per week in respect of the cleaning work that the cleaner undertook in my constituency home. This was entirely commensurate with the cleaning work that they undertook and a valid ACA claim. Any other ad hoc duties they may have occasionally performed was more than compensated for by the fact that they had free board, which was funded by me.
The article mentions that my children are at boarding school but were of primary school age when payments began. That may be technically true but my son has been boarding for 4 years and my daughter for one and a half years. The Telegraph journalist points to our conversations and emails where I repeatedly attempted to set out the accurate record, but fails to mention that she accused me of claiming for childcare specifically during the period April 2008 to June 2008. During these months both of our children were at boarding school.
Finally the article also implies that I am still claiming for cleaners. This is incorrect and I had previously stated, in writing to the Daily Telegraph, that I have not made any claims in respect of second home allowance in this financial year and that I will not make any further claims in respect of my second home until the system has been reformed.
Jonathan Djanogly MP"