Yesterday we featured a News of the World story about Tory MEPs and their allegedly "greedy" use of expenses and allowances. Sir Robert Atkins MEP was featured prominently in the NotW and we invited him to respond. This is his reply, just emailed to us:
"My wife Dulcie was a qualified secretary when I met her in 1968. For 30 years, during my time as an MP, Minister and MEP, she has been my full-time secretary, paid the market rate. This has always been openly declared and well-known.
She has also been active in the community for many years, as is the case with many thousands of local councillors who give of their time, over and above their normal working environment. Dulcie is no different, except perhaps that she works during too much of her “leisure” time!
My son worked full-time in Brussels for a period after leaving University and was paid at the same – if not slightly lower rate – as other Parliamentary assistants of his age and experience. He was head-hunted away on a much higher salary and ceased working for me in 2004.
These employments were legally contracted and registered with the Parliamentary authorities, who have approved and audited them each year."
