As I was only elected in mid-December 2019 and it took time to set up my offices in Westminster and Dudley, and hiring of staff particularly with ensuing global pandemic delaying things. It is also worth remembering that that financial year was only three and a half months long (12th December 2019 – 31st March 2020), so it is obvious that costs will increase when we consider a full 12 months (1st April 2020 – 31st March 2021).
I could not do my job without my team who have done an outstanding job in difficult circumstances whilst offices have faced an unprecedented increases in communications from constituents. The figure includes not just their salaries, but pension contributions and national insurance payments that any employer has to pay. I have employed on average two full time and 3 part time members of staff during that period.
My team and I have always sought to be as cost efficient for the taxpayer as possible, whilst ensuring that constituents received the support they needed in often difficult and complicated situations - while costing less than the average for other members of Parliament.