House of Commons apologises to Wirral MP for wrong advice on expenses

Jun 26 2009 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

Mr Bird said: “I regret that a mistake was made by the Department. I personally regret, too, the distress which is now being caused to you.”

Mr Bird said he had reviewed the paperwork and was “satisfied that incorrect advice was indeed given” and despite a letter from Mr Chapman querying this the error was not put right until several months later – adding to the amount incorrectly claimed.

Mr Bird said at that point his department’s mistake was taken “very seriously” and added: “It was not swept under the carpet.”

He said following an internal investigation “the appropriate action was taken in accordance with normal personnel practice”.

His letter continued: “The error was all the more unfortunate because under the rules prevailing at the time you would, in fact, have had other legitimate expenses against which to claim.

“It is also likely that such expenses would have equalled, and perhaps exceeded, the notional amount of mortgage you claimed. In that sense, one could argue that there was no overall loss to public funds.”