I thought these two Evening Standard articles on Labour MP 'Mrs Expenses'
Ann Keen, might be of interest. I have also included a copy of my recent
email to the Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/17635363
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/londonnews/articles/17710120
Best regards
Andrew Dakers
Lib Dem PPC for Brentford & Isleworth
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Dakers" <andrew.dakers@blueyonder.co.uk>
To: <harveym@parliament.uk>
Cc: "'Caroline Felstead'" <**********@blueyonder.co.uk>
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 1:26 AM
Subject: Unsolicited letters to parents from the Office of Ann Keen MP
Dear Mr Harvey
I am writing to raise my concerns over the use of parliamentary stationery
by the Office of Ann Keen MP. I understand from speaking to the Serjeant at
Arms Department yesterday afternoon that this is an issue that would usually
be investigated by you as the Asst Serjeant at Arms.
Attached is an unsolicited letter received by Caroline Feltstead, a parent
at Isleworth & Syon school in Brentford & Isleworth constituency from Ann
Keen MP. Questions that I would like answered are:
1) The letter starts with "Members of Parliament have been asked to update
parents...". Who asked MPs to take this service on? Surely it is normal
for state benefits/legislative changes to be notified through Government
agencies, not through a local MP? This really needs clarifying.
2) If as I understand this letter is being sent out to parents unsolicited,
unless Ann Keen has paid for the paper and the postage, does this use of
parliamentary stationery break parliamentary rules?
I look forward to hearing from you and getting clarification on this matter
which is of concern to many people in the Brentford & Isleworth
constituency.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Dakers
Liberal Democrat PPC for Brentford & Isleworth
2 Upper Butts, Brentford, Middx TW8 8DA