But don’t bank on any of them accounting for accommodation and entertainment expenses, which are paid out of the Civil List.
Audit reviews on the Civil List for the years ending 30 June 2005 and 2006 state that the majority of traveling ministers or MPs were not able to present supporting documents for accommodation and entertainment, which under section 7(4) and 7(9) of the Civil List Order, are accountable allowances.
Total accommodation and entertainment allowances of $79,641 and $70,937 for the respective years, were not supported by receipts and/or invoices and were therefore unaccounted for.
“The lack of supporting documents for the aforesaid expenses raises doubt as to whether or not expenditures incurred are appropriate, valid and accurate,” said the review.
And the lack of documentation forwarded by MPs after their travels is something that bothers Clerk of Parliament Nga Valoa.
In his response to the review, which was tabled in parliament recently, Valoa said the legislation which covers the privileges and entitlements is very clear, however “there is resistance by some members of parliament to this idea.”
As for seeking reimbursement from MPs for expenditure made by the Civil List on the grounds that expenses were to be fully or partially paid by the host organization, Valoa said they have not had success in determining whether or not funds promised were actually received.
As for annual leave, audit stated that no records were maintained for members during that period. The audit office found that annual leave was being paid out to all office holders who are entitled to be compensated for up to two weeks of their salaries for leave not taken within six months.
“However, no documents are maintained by parliamentary services for the annual leave balances as office holders rarely submit annual leave applications,” said the audit review.
In response, Valoa said this was a hard area to monitor as there was no requirement for MPs to submit timesheets.
“This is one reason why the Tribunal Remuneration Committee revoked the entitlement effective in July 2006,” Valoa said.
