Stormont car freebie: Assembly says MLAs 'should not profit from public funds' amid parties' silence over 'public paying twice'
Stormont politicians must abide by principles governing standards in public life when claiming expenses – rules which require them not to “profit from public funds”, the Northern Ireland Assembly has said.
The comments were in response to the revelation that some MLAs have been charging their cars for free at parliament buildings – with their parties dodging questions about whether they were claiming travel expenses at the same time.
Sinn Fein, the DUP, UUP and Alliance Party have so far declined to say whether any of their representatives availed of the free top-ups, while also billing the taxpayer for travel allowances. The SDLP said none of its MLAs have.
MLAs with petrol or diesel vehicles have to pay at garage forecourts themselves.
Politicians are entitled to claim allowances worth thousands of pounds for driving to work at the Assembly, with a separate pay out for travelling around their own constituency. These expenses depend on how far from Stormont their constituency is.
Members of the public using electric vehicle (EV) charging points on the Stormont estate have to pay – with the revenue going to the Assembly.
Stormont officials say the Assembly Travel Allowance (ATA) is designed to cover the general costs of travel – such as wear and tear of the vehicle, motor tax, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, but did not mention fuel costs.
Responding to media queries about the car charging freebie for MLAs, the Assembly said: “In claiming recovery of expenses, Members are expected to adhere to the seven principles of public life as set out by the Nolan Committee and the 10 principles agreed by the political parties in 2009. Principle seven requires that MLAs should not profit from public funds”.
Principle 7 says “Arrangements should be avoided which may give rise to an accusation that an MLA, or someone close to an MLA, is obtaining an element of profit from public funds...”.
The 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly Members’ Salaries, Allowances, Expenses and Pensions says there is a “duty to observe the seven Nolan principles of public life in all aspects of incurring and claiming expenditure”.
The TUV said the current arrangement could mean the public was “effectively paying twice for MLAs to travel to Stormont” – raising a question as to whether a profit could have been made.
The News Letter has asked the Assembly to clarify whether the ATA is designed to cover fuel as well as wear and tear of the vehicle, motor tax, insurance, maintenance and depreciation.