British cabinet ministers including Chancellor Alistair Darling paid accountants thousands of pounds of public money to complete their personal tax returns, it was reported.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith were also among those who claimed for accountancy bills on their expenses, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Others were Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell and International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander, the paper said.
Altogether, they apparently spent more than £11,000 (€12,527) on accountants out of the office allowance which is available to MPs on top of their second homes allowance.
Mr Darling’s accountancy bills came to £1,400 over two years, while Mr Hoon’s claims came to almost £3,000.
Mr Hoon, Ms Blears and Mr Purnell have already faced questions over their failure to pay capital gains tax on properties they have sold.
Ministers insisted that the accountancy bills were in relation to their work as MPs and that the claims were allowable under the Commons rules.
The Telegraphalso reported today that eight ministers had claimed on their office allowances for digital cameras or camcorders while three members of the Cabinet had charged for media training.
Labour’s deputy leader, Harriet Harman, was said to have charged more than £10,000 to the public purse for advice from media consultant Scarlett MccGwire.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith allegedly bought husband Richard Timney, who is employed as an assistant, a £240 Apple iPhone.
She was previously forced to pay back £10 she had claimed for two adult films he watched.
In relation to ministers’ accountancy bills, a Labour source said that the Green Book of rules governing MPs’ expenses specifically stated that claims for accountants’ advice was allowable.
“In order that MPs comply fully with all the relevant requirements relating to tax and to ensure they are properly meeting all their tax liabilities many rightly seek professional assistance and advice where this relates specifically to their role as MP,” the source added.
Mr Darling’s spokeswoman said all of his accountancy fees were in relation to his work as an MP.
The Chancellor said: “Like many MPs I employed an accountant to prepare tax returns for each of the years in question to ensure that the correct amount of tax was paid in respect of my office costs.”
A spokesman for Hazel Blears said she had been advised to obtain accountancy advice when she became an MP because she would have to deal with both personal taxation and office accounts.
“She was advised that HW Fisher and Company was the appropriate specialist in this field and that they provided services for many MPs and other ministers,” the spokesman said.
PA