House of Commons
Some 26 current and former MPs have had debts of up to £300 written off after failing to pay them Reuters

The parliamentary expenses watchdog has named a total of 26 MPS who have failed to repay their debts of up to £300 despite being contacted "several times about these outstanding sums". The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has "named and shamed" the MPs who have forced them to cancel more than £2,000 owed to the taxpayer as the cost of recovering their bills is no longer "cost effective".

Daniel Poulter, Conservative MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, was found to have failed to repay the most amount of money at £229.62, whereas Bournemouth East's Tory MP Tobias Ellwood owed the least, with £4.50.

In total, Ipsa was forced to write off £2,105.43 in MP debts in the last financial year, with the total costs of MPs' expenses rising by £1.7m to £106m in 2014-15 compared to the previous year.

IPSA chief executive Marcial Boo said: "As the regulator of the public funds that go to MPs, Ipsa ensures that taxpayers' money is used transparently, and that MPs are appropriately resourced to carry out their parliamentary functions. Our regular publications include every single penny claimed by MPs, so that taxpayers and voters can see for themselves how their money is spent and gain assurance that Ipsa is scrutinising MPs' expenditure on their behalf."

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "MPs clearly need a properly-resourced office to help them carry out their parliamentary and constituency duties, although they must always seek to achieve value for the taxpayers' money they are spending.

"At first glance, these latest figures are to be welcomed since MPs appear to have kept costs under control, effectively reducing the total spent on running their offices after inflation is taken in to account. It remains a matter of concern that Ipsa has had to write off debts amounting to more than £2,000.

If the expenses scandal taught MPs anything, it should be that the public expect the very highest standards of probity and integrity when it comes to making claims on the taxpayer. Any of the MPs or living former MPs still owing money to the authorities should pay what is due immediately."

MP NameReason the claim was classified as a debtExpense TypeAmount written off
Barry GardinerMP selected 'not claimed - to repay' when submitting this item they
purchased on the Payment Card, but haven't yet returned the funds to us.
Expense Outside Scheme£77.30
Caroline DinenageItem on Paym​ent Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because it is not
allowable under our rules
Const Office Tel. Usage/Rental£13.50
Charles HendryItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because it is not
allowable under our rules
Hotel London Area£87.60
Chris SkidmoreItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because it is not
allowable under our rules
Hotel London Area£125.00
Clive EffordDuplicate claimNewspapers/Journals£79.20
Daniel PoulterMP selected 'not claimed - to repay' when submitting this item they
purchased on the Payment Card, but haven't yet returned the funds to us.
Expense Outside Scheme£229.62
David MowatMP selected 'not claimed - to repay' when submitting this item they
purchased on the Payment Card, but haven't yet returned the funds to us.
Expense Outside Scheme£35.00
Edward TimpsonMP selected 'not claimed - to repay' when submitting this item they
purchased on the Payment Card, but haven't yet returned the funds to us.
Public Tr OTHER£127.70
Frank DobsonMP selected 'not claimed - to repay' when submitting this item they
purchased on the Payment Card, but haven't yet returned the funds to us.
Expense Outside Scheme£7.50
Frank RoyItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because it is not
allowable under our rules
Const Office Tel. Usage/Rental£13.50
Frank RoyItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because we received
insufficient evidence to support the claim
Const Office Tel. Usage/Rental£59.87
Guy OppermanDirect rental payment for accommodation was overpaid to the landlordAccommodation rent£161.09
Ian MearnsMP selected 'not claimed - to repay' when submitting this item they
purchased on the Payment Card, but haven't yet returned the funds to us.
Public Tr RAIL - RTN£10.00
Joe BentonItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because we received
insufficient evidence to support the claim
Const Office Tel. Usage/Rental£13.50
Joe BentonItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because we received
insufficient evidence to support the claim
Const Office Tel. Usage/Rental£107.49
Joe BentonItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because we received
insufficient evidence to support the claim
Const Office Tel. Usage/Rental£188.16
Julie HillingMP selected 'not claimed - to repay' when submitting this item they
purchased on the Payment Card, but haven't yet returned the funds to us.
Expense Outside Scheme£14.00
Julie HillingMP selected 'not claimed - to repay' when submitting this item they
purchased on the Payment Card, but haven't yet returned the funds to us.
Expense Outside Scheme£61.30
Khalid MahmoodItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because it is not
allowable under our rules
Hotel London Area£6.00
Khalid MahmoodMP selected 'not claimed - to repay' when submitting this item they
purchased on the Payment Card, but haven't yet returned the funds to us.
Staff Hotel£6.00
Khalid MahmoodMP selected 'not claimed - to repay' when submitting this item they
purchased on the Payment Card, but haven't yet returned the funds to us.
Staff Hotel£12.00
Khalid MahmoodMP selected 'not claimed - to repay' when submitting this item they
purchased on the Payment Card, but haven't yet returned the funds to us.
Staff Hotel£12.00
Laurence RobertsonClaim for late payment charges, which are ineligible under our Scheme
rules
Const Office Tel. Usage/Rental£13.50
Laurence RobertsonClaim for late payment charges, which are ineligible under our Scheme
rules
Const Office Tel. Usage/Rental£13.50
Michael MeacherItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because it is not
allowable under our rules
Const Office Tel. Usage/Rental£13.50
Michael MeacherItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because we received
insufficient evidence to support the claim
Const Office Tel. Usage/Rental£13.50
Paul FarrellyItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because we received
insufficient evidence to support the claim
Expense Outside Scheme£28.00
Peter BoneDuplicate claimOwn Vehicle Car£9.90
Peter BoneDuplicate claimOwn Vehicle Car£18.00
Peter BoneDuplicate claimStationery Purchase£12.27
Sian JamesItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because we received
insufficient evidence to support the claim
Public Tr RAIL Railcard£193.00
Stephen BarclayDuplicate claimPublic Tr RAIL - RTN£50.00
Stephen BarclayMP selected 'not claimed - to repay' when submitting this item they
purchased on the Payment Card, but haven't yet returned the funds to us.
Expens​e Outside Scheme£12.75
Stephen McCabeItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because it is not
allowable under our rules
Const Office Tel. Usage/Rental£13.50
Stephen McCabeItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because it is not
allowable under our rules
Const Office Tel. Usage/Rental£13.50
Stephen WilliamsItem on Payment Card deemed not payable by IPSA, because it is not
allowable under our rules
Const Office Tel. Usage/Rental£13.50
Stephen WilliamsOverspend on 2013-14 Office Costsn/a£195.68
Stewart JacksonMP selected 'not claimed - to repay' when submitting this item they
purchased on the Payment Card, but haven't yet returned the funds to us.
Parking£7.50
Tim YeoDuplicate claimHealth and Welfare Costs£10.00
Tobias EllwoodClaim for an item which was ineligible under our Scheme rulesFood & Drink£5.00
Tobias EllwoodDuplicate claimPublic Tr RAIL - RTN£17.00
Tobias EllwoodMP selected 'not claimed - to repay' when submitting this item they
purchased on the Payment Card, but haven't yet returned the funds to us.
Parking£4.50