PUBLICATION of MPs’ allowances and expenses is supposed to let the public see exactly what they cost us to run.

But do we see everything?

Take pensions. Our MPs have one of the best pension schemes in the world. They can make contributions of up to ten per cent of their gross pay. The effect on take home pay is much less than that as they benefit from tax relief at the highest rate, and pay a lower rate of National Insurance.

An MP who pays the ten per cent contribution builds up benefits at 1/40th of their final salary for each year of contributions. After just one five-year Parliament an MP can receive a pension of 1/8th of their final salary.

Pensions are not part of MPs’ allowances. Interestingly enough, neither are pension contributions of MPs’ staff.

These can join a group stakeholder pension to which the House of Commons contributes ten per cent of salary. This contribution is not taken from MPs’ allowances.

It is in effect an “extra” ten per cent paid to staff that does not appear in expenses claims.

So, an MP paying their partner a £50,000 salary actually adds £5,000 hidden away in pension contributions not declared to the public.

Councillor Stephen Allison, UK Independence Party, Hartlepool Borough Council.