Burnham-On-Sea’s MP has rigorously denied that he claimed expenses for several packs of slug pellets.
Following the latest release of expense claims published here on the Parliament website, it was reported that David Heathcoat-Amory had made several claims for gardening items, including slug pellets.
However, Mr Heathcoat-Amory contacted Burnham-On-Sea.com on Saturday to confirm that the reports are “completely untrue.”
He said: “Find the invoice dated 30/4/08. It totals £893.58. On it is written by hand, ‘claim £782.50’. The difference of £111.08 are these items: Stocks, twine, wood, top soil, slug pellets, totalling £111.08, which were not claimed.”.
“On the invoice dated 31/7/08, the same applies. The invoice total is £829.92, but I claimed £794.24 and marked the items not claimed, including slug pellets and Miracle Grow.”
He added: “Since the start of this financial year, 2009-10, I have made no Additional Cost Allowance claims of any kind until the new rules are agreed.”
Confusion over the latest expense claims has led to reports appearing about Mr Heathcoat-Amory’s claims in the Scottish Daily Record, Daily Mirror, and The Guardian.
His claims were also named on a list of “Top 10 MPs’ Gardening Expenses Claims” by gardening magazine Horticultural Week here.
The MP hit the headlines in April over expense claims he made for bags of manure.
