MP defends hiring wife as secretary

The annual report from the watchdog group the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) for 2012/13 revealed that 85 MPs employ a member of their family.

The report also showed MPs claimed a total of £23million in personal expenses.

Henry’s share of those claims – including his salary – stood at £125,893.09, a rise of more than £5,000 on the previous year and £28,000 more than in 2010/11.

His claims included a staff payroll of £94,146.04 and expenses for travel, hospitality and office costs ranging from hundreds of pounds for the rent at his constituency office down to 80p for parking.

His costs are higher than those of Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames, who claimed £124,542.64, and Cabinet member and Horsham MP Francis Maude, who claimed £120,893.93.

Highlighting Mr Maude’s role as a Cabinet minister, Henry pointed out that he had “the support and resources of a Government department that I do not”.

His wife Jennifer Millar-Smith – a former Crawley Borough councillor - has worked for him as senior secretary since he was elected as Crawley MP in May 2010, earning between £20,000 and £24,999 per year.

The job she was given was not advertised to other potential candidates.

Henry said: “After election in May 2010 I had just days to find an office to rent in Crawley and hire additional staff.

“Obviously she was immediately available and did a very good job.

“Trust is important in my role and also she works many more hours, including at home and over weekends, than she is contracted for.”

He added: “Jen’s knowledge of previously working in the NHS and as a former local councillor as well as Crawley Housing Cabinet Member is invaluable.

“I work about a 70-hour week so it is a way for us to see each other more than we otherwise would, too.”

On top of his salary of £65,738, Henry receives a London Area Living Payment (LALP) of

£3,759.96 and claimed travel costs of £5,815.32.

He said: “My travel expenses are very average but I would point out that, unlike most MPs I deliberately do not rent a taxpayer-funded second home in London and so travel to and from Crawley every day.

“Additionally I do not seek reimbursement of my travel expenses around Crawley – which technically I could.”

Chris Oxlade, Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Crawley, said: “MPs need a well-staffed office to help them deal with casework and parliamentary business.

“The question is whether the taxpayer is getting value for money.”

Referring to a row in January this year about Henry’s use of unpaid interns, Cllr Oxlade added: “Given Mr Smith’s claims that he can’t afford to pay his interns because his staffing allowance doesn’t go far enough you really do wonder when, you see how much of it is going to the Smith household.