It was a busy day the started over in Stoborough and ended in Weymouth.  Whilst I was hairing about the constituency the media were reporting MPs expenses claims.  I publish mine in full below.

The issue in Stoborough was about persuading Natural England to be more pragmatic about their objection to any development on land close to a SSSI.  There is a desperate demand for housing in the area and given that a bypass seperates this land from the protected heathland I think common sense  should prevail and allow the building.

Then on to Bovington to meet representatives of the workers at ABRO.  They wanted to update me on the medium to long term plans for their work.  I agreed to talk to ministers and others in Westminster about the strengths of the organisation, particularly in relation to the new FRES vehicles as they come on stream. 

Then on to Portland via the office.  I went to see the Governor at the YOI to follow up complaints from residents at The Grove about abuse and other things being hurled at them from cells in the prison.  Steve Holland was receptive and promised to continue to work with the residents on the issue and he will bring in some new measures shortly which he hopes will help.

Finally in Weymouth I met with two experts on travel training and the importance of young people, especially those with special needs, being confident and safe to travel independently on public transport.

Details for MPs expenses claims were as follows.  The Dorset MPs were:

1  Oliver Letwin: £147,084 (Rank - 136)
2  Mr Christopher Chope: £138,436 (Rank - 312)
3  Jim Knight: £137,970 (Rank - 320)
4  Robert Walter: £132,729 (Rank - 421)
5  John Butterfill: £129,379 (Rank - 465)
6  Robert Syms: £129,034 (Rank - 470)
7  Annette Brooke: £125,392 (Rank - 510)
8  Tobias Ellwood: £124, 884 (Rank - 512)

In my case the costs breakdown to:

Cost of staying in London: £22,110; office running costs: £16,234; Staffing costs: £90,619; Travel £3,609; other costs £5,398.

I have voted in 79% of votes in Parliament over the last Parliamentary year (other Dorset MPs - Oliver Letwin - 63%; Christopher Chope - 62%; Tobias Ellwood - 71%; John Butterfill - 64%; Robert Syms - 74%; Annette Brooke - 75%; Robert Walter 44%).