FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does your work at Westminster involve?

I spend about half of my time in my constituency and the other half at Westminster. This normally involves flying down to London early in the week and flying home on a Thursday night.

The average day consists of a mix of attending debates, meetings, Committees and dealing with correspondence from constituents and other groups or organisations who have contacted me. There are lobbies of parliament by groups wishing to express their views and constituents who visit on a fairly regular basis.

Scrutinising the work of the Government is one of the most important parts of being an MP. To find out more about my work on Committees which examine legislation (standing Committees) or monitor a particular department (select Committees) please visit the Committees section here.

People often comment on how empty the House of Commons chamber can be outside times like Prime Minister’s Questions. There are a number of reasons for this. As well as the chamber debates also take place in Westminster Hall and in committee rooms upstairs from the chamber. Time has also to be found to read the volume of post, emails and fax messages that arrive on a daily basis.

What does your work in the constituency involve?

When I am in the constituency I hold regular surgeries (see here) and try to visit as many groups, organisations, schools and community events as possible. If you are aware of something I should attend please contact me and I will do my best to do so. I am usually happy to help promote local events or campaigns.
In the course of every year I try to reach every inhabited island in Orkney and Shetland at least once – more if possible. Mostly these visits are made during the summer recess and, for me, they are best days of the year! The dates on which I will be visiting each island are advertised in the local media.

Is it possible to get a tour of Westminster?

Yes, provided it is at a time when the Palace of Westminster is open to the public. The Parliament’s web site has lots of information on visiting Westminster (http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hcio/tours.cfm). To arrange a tour please contact my Westminster office. Details of when tours are possible can also be found here.

Is it possible to watch a debate in the House of Commons?

Yes, but it is advisable to apply for tickets in advance as otherwise it can often involve a long wait (often 1 or 2 hours). Details of how to apply for tickets are given on the Houses of Parliament web site
http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hcio/gallery.cfm.

If you are a constituent, you can apply to my Parliamentary office with a request for tickets. But please note that MPs have only a small allocation of tickets, and by no means for every day. For that reason it can be difficult for them to meet requests for tickets for specific days.

Can I arrange a meeting with you?

If you live in Orkney or Shetland and wish to meet me to discuss an issue, this can be done at one of my surgeries or by arranging a meeting at some other mutually convenient time. Details of my next surgeries can be found here. Otherwise you can contact my secretary on 0207 219 8307 to arrange a meeting.

Why do MPs get paid allowances or ‘expenses’ on top of their salaries?

Some people have asked me about the allowances or ‘expenses’ paid to MPs on top of their salaries. Because MPs run offices and employ staff, like any small business there are the running costs of an office which must be paid.

Most of the following amounts are paid from the fees office in Parliament directly either to staff as salaries, to landlords for rent or to cover travel between the Northern Isles and Westminster.

Travel
Travelling between the Northern Isles and London on a weekly basis while Parliament is sitting is a costly but necessary part of representing constituents in Parliament and attending events and meeting constituents in Orkney and Shetland.

I normally fly down to London on a Monday and return to Orkney or Shetland on a Thursday. These flights are on flexible business tickets; these are not cheap, but allow for last minute changes to flights without losing the ticket cost. Given the flexible nature of working as an MP, last minute changes to travel arrangements are frequent and unavoidable.

Accommodation
I rent a flat in central London where I stay during the week. I also rent a flat in Lerwick. My family home is in Orkney.

Office
Office costs include rent of the constituency offices in Shetland and Orkney, rates, heat, light, insurance telephones etc. I am supplied with office space at Westminster.

Staff
I employ a secretary and a researcher on a full time basis in the House of Commons. I also share a caseworker based in Kirkwall with Jim Wallace MSP. The staff salaries figure includes tax and national insurance which is sent direct to the Inland Revenue.

IT and stationery
Some IT and stationery is purchased centrally and then charged to MPs. Computers are not purchased but supplied and maintained centrally. This equipment is the property of the Parliament.

The figures break up into six amounts

*These figures include the cost of postage for the first time. The 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 figures do not take the cost of postage into account.

What does each of these categories mean?

Office costs: This is paid to meet the costs of accommodation for office or surgery use; equipment and supplies for office or surgery; work commissioned or other services; and certain travel and communications.

Travel: This is paid to meet the costs of MPs travel to and from their constituency and Westminster.

London living costs: This is paid to reimburse MPs for necessary costs incurred when staying overnight away from their main home for the purpose of performing parliamentary duties. As a special concession, because of the difficulties of travelling between Shetland and Orkney I am allowed to meet the costs of having a flat in Shetland out of my London living allowance. I do not get any extra allowance for this.

Centrally Purchased Stationary: This includes stationery with pre-paid postage for use in direct connection with a Member's parliamentary duties; the House of Commons is charged separately for the associated postage costs. The figures given for the MP for 2001-02 and 2002-03 do not include any postage costs. The figure for 2003-04 includes the postage costs for the MP.

Central IT provision: This is paid to cover the cost of equipment supplied on loan to each Member, such as computers and printers.

Do you have any other sources of income?

I do not receive any income apart from my MP’s salary. For details of my most recent submission in the Register of Members' Interests please go to
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/040908/memi06.htm