Friday 28.10.2005				
MPs pick up £81million in expenses	

MEMBERS of Parliament claimed nearly £81 million in expenses last year, topping up their earnings by nearly six times the average British salary. They each claimed an average £122,677 to go with a basic backbencher salary of £57,485, figures showed yesterday.

This means their allowances rose by £3million in the year leading up to the General Election and have soared by £23million in the last three years.
Critics accused MPs of setting a 'rotten example' while outwardly promising to crack down on public sector waste.	The biggest spender was ousted Labour MP Geraint Davies. Last year, he spent £176,026 on top of his salary, including £13,288 on stationery and £38,750 on stamps.

He also claimed £20,024, nearly the maximum allowance, for staying overnight in Central London - despite his home being just half-an-hour away. Mr Davies, who lost his seat in Croydon Central by 75 votes in May, said: 'I've been the most conscientious and active MP in Britain, in the biggest and busiest constituency in the country. I used the allowances available for serving the community.'

Labour backbencher Claire Curtis-Thomas, last year's biggest spender, managed to rein in her claims from £168,889 to £153,352. Tony Blair's allowances rose from £80,836 to £93,996, to go with his £183,932 salary.

Meanwhile, outgoing Tory leader Michael Howard's expenses leapt from £126,658 to £133,526. And Gordon Brown's much-vaunted love of prudence failed to stop his expenses claims rising from £130,292 to £137,328. In contrast, Labour rebel Dennis Skinner, the 'Beast of Bolsover', claimed just £75,487, the lowest among MPs who spent the whole year in Parliament.

Matthew Elliott, from protest group the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: 'Despite the commitment by all parties to cut public sector inefficiency, it's clear that doesn't extend to MPs' allowances.' But a spokesman for the Members' Estimates Committee said the public was getting 'excellent value for money' from MPs.

RACKING UP COSTS	
Geraint Davies (Lab, Croydon Central)	
Additional costs	£20,024		
London supplements	£0	Other high spenders	
Incidental expenses	£22,025	Margaret Moran (Lab, Luton South)	
Staff costs	£77,493	Total: £168,569	
Members' travel	£2,423	Angus Robertson (SNP, Moray)	
Members' staff travel	£90	Total: £160,776	
Stationery	£13,288	Dr Ashok Kumar (Lab, Middlesbrough	
Postage	£38,750	South and East Cleveland)	
Computers	£1,933	Total: £158,844	
Other costs	£0	Peter Duncan (Con, Galloway and	
		Upper Nithsdale)	
Total: £176,026	Total: £158,032	

SAD town set to become happier

WITH the nights drawing in and the clocks due to go back this weekend, you may feel you spend most of the winter in darkness. But spare a thought for the residents of one Alpine town who spend four months every year in near total darkness. But now, after years of seeing all their natural sunlight blocked out by the Stadtberg mountain, they have been given a ray of hope. 

Two 2.4m mirrors will be set up in a bid to reflect light back into the valley. The £2.5million scheme was dreamed up by scientists at the Bartenbach Light Laboratory, near Innsbruck, Austria. The mirrors will be placed on opposite side of the valley to reflect the Sun's rays back into Rattenberg am Inn, in Tyrol, Austria. Scientist Markus Peskoller said: 'We believe the Sun we can direct on to the village will be sufficient to chase away the winter blues and promote psychological well-being.'

Heart attack' announcer suspended

A STATION announcer told commuters train delays had been caused by an 'inconsiderate' passenger having a heart attack. In a loudspeaker update at Glasgow's Argyle Street station, he said: 'We apologise for the delay to the trains. This was due to an inconsiderate passenger having a heart attack.' The joke did not go down well with
commuters, however, or bosses at First ScotRail. It is thought the announcer has been suspended. The man fell ill on| the 4.20pm service from Motherwell to Dalmuir. Drivers are under strict rules to | stop at the nearest station to get ill people to an ambulance as quickly as possible. The passenger was picked up | at Argyle Street shortly after 5pm.

Sorry gran, you are too young...

IT COULD be taken as the ultimate 'ageist' compliment. A grandmother who tried to buy a packet of £1.50 sparklers from a supermarket was asked to prove she was over 18. Susan Field, 50, was told she needed a passport after staff at the Co-Op store would not accept her bankcard as proof of her identification. Ms Field, from Odd Down, Bath, said she was it was 'absolutely ridiculous'. 'It's a sign of the way our personal freedoms are being eroded,' she added. 'I'm 50 and can't buy fireworks.' A Co-Op spokeswoman said staff had been over-zealous and apologized.

METRO FACTFILE

One reason octopuses need eight legs is because the female needs them to deal with her eggs. After retreating to a dark cave, she lays up to 100,000 eggs, each of which has a string attached. The new mother then links them all together before hanging them from the ceiling. She then stands guard until they hatch seven weeks later.