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		MEPs' Allowances and Transparency There has been much publicity in recent weeks about parliamentary allowances, and in particular about staff budgets and the employment of MEPs' relatives. As an MEP, I receive a salary identical to a Westminster MP: currently around £62,000 a year. For the record, I do not currently employ any relative. During my first term 1999/2004 I employed my wife as part-time UK diary secretary. I also employed my son for three months as a stagière in Brussels. In each case they were remunerated on an arm's length basis, not on preferential terms. In 2007 I received around £125,000 in staff allowances. During that time, I employed two full-time research assistants. I also had a half-share in a UK-based Press Officer, and I paid for administrative services in the UK (from West Northamptonshire Conservative Group). On an on-going monthly fee basis I use external suppliers to maintain my blog (http://rogerhelmermep.worpress.com), and my web-site (www.rogerhelmer.com). I also retain the services of a professional accounting firm in the region. On an ad-hoc basis I have also bought advertising and marketing services, and external advice on international trade issues. My staff funds are administered on a fee basis by my wife, who works as a self-employed contractor. Her work is overseen and checked by a qualified firm of local accounts, Simpsons of Lutterworth. Why use a family member for this work? There are clear benefits in doing so. She is contactable at all hours. She knows the region and the people, and has a commitment to the work which could not be expected of an external contractor. And in addition to her administrative and payroll work, she exercises a pastoral care and personnel function (as the contractual employer of my staff) which would not be available from an external source. In addition to my staff allowances, I am entitled to a range of other expenses to support my work as a parliamentarian. These allowances are drawn, and disbursed, precisely in line with parliamentary rules.