Snouts in the trough of public funds

bath | community | news report Thursday June 18, 2009 07:22 by Joe Public - Pig Farmers Association

Update on Don Fosters expenses claims

Why the hell should we be buying Don Foster a kingsize Grand mattress "to be reduced by 3 inches" plus bed linen etc.,

Having looked through the heavily censored pages of Don Fosters expenses claims for 2004 – 2008 taxpayers may be interested to know they have generously paid for the following expenses incurred by Don on his one bedroomed ex "right to buy" council flat in Pimlico:

£3140 on a new Howden Greenwich Walnut Kitchen
£3745 installation of new kitchen
£3454 to replace old bathroom with walk in wet room
£1793 on new heating system
£89 for a digital radio
£24.96 on a toaster
£196.55 on bed linen
£405 on a kingsize shaker bedframe “to be reduced by 3 inches”
£495 on a kingsize grand mattress “to be reduced by 3 inches”
£600 on TV licences
£10000 on food consumed whilst living in flat on a part time basis when parliament is sitting.

Other claims that stand out include:

£800 to David Partner photographer “To take photographs of Don”
£5956 x 4 to produce Bath Liberal Democrats Annual Report
£150 on window cleaning of Don’s constituency office in Bath
£1080 on design of Don’s second rate website
£900 re-mortgage arrangement fee

Considering the vast amount of Don’s expenses claims running into hundreds of pages I am surprised he has any time left to carry out his parliamentary duties.

Finally, can Don confirm if :

1) the thousands of pounds paid to an anonymous constituency office volunteer was in fact paid to a family member?

2) does the ex council flat lie empty for the 7 months of the year when Parliament is not sitting?