100 peers claimed over £50,000 each in expenses

London: More than 100 peers each claimed in excess of £50,000 (Dh296,632) in expenses to work in the House of Lords last year, official figures show.

They included 18 members who claimed more than £30,000 in housing costs — significantly more than the maximum £24,000 that MPs receive to run a second home.

The figures show that 17 peers claimed more than £60,000, 11 more than £65,000 and one, the cross-bencher Lord Laird, a total of £73,000. More than 300 claimed in excess of £25,000. Members of the Upper House have faced growing scrutiny over their allowances since media began disclosing details of MPs' expenses claims in May.

Details of the peers' claims for 2008-09 were compiled by Lord Brabazon, the chairman of the House of Lords Committee. He set out claims in £5,000 bands and showed that the most common total claim for the year was for between £45,000 and £49,999.

Overall, the peers claimed a total of £19 million, a seven per cent increase on the year before.

Prolonged absence

It was disclosed that the second most expensive peer, Baroness Adams of Craigielea, who, as Irene Adams, was a long-serving Labour MP, claimed £67,000 despite having not taken part in a House of Lords debate since making her maiden speech nearly four years ago.

On average, each of the 724 members of the Lords received £26,245 last year. However, fewer than 600 claimed expenses. Some were paid ministers who were given a salary and so could not receive allowances; others did not turn up to work at all.

A small number either did not claim any expenses, or claimed amounts of under £5,000. In its recent review of House of Lords allowances, the Senior Salaries Review Board (SSRB) estimated that about 400 peers were regular attendees of the Upper Chamber.

This suggests that more than one in four of those who claimed expenses was reimbursed by at least £50,000 last year.

Unless they are office holders, peers do not receive a salary, but may put in second home expenses of up to £174 a night for staying away from their main residence.

They can also receive a daily attendance allowance of £86.50. To qualify for the payments, peers must turn up in the chamber and catch the eye of a clerk. They do not have to stay for debates or votes. They can also claim for travel to and from their second home, for office expenses, IT support and free laptop computers.

Lady Adams received £30,212 in overnight subsistence and £12,142 in daily subsistence for attending the Lords on 143 occasions, along with £12,016 to travel from her Scottish home and £13,526 in office costs. On Sunday she declined to discuss the claims, saying: "I'm not interested."