Expenses update

SIR – Madeleine Burton s article on Anne Main s expenses had a bit of a spin on it when it came to Mrs Main s comments. According to Madeleine, Mrs Main said that they (the Committee on Standards and Privileges) did conclude that I need to make a payment

SIR - Madeleine Burton's article on Anne Main's expenses had a bit of a spin on it when it came to Mrs Main's comments. According to Madeleine, Mrs Main said that "they (the Committee on Standards and Privileges) did conclude that I need to make a payment to reflect this personal benefit to me as a parent".

Well, not quite. Having read the entire report I can tell you that what the Committee actually said is that "Mrs Main has not recognised or accepted the distinction between meeting an adult daughter's living costs from private funds and meeting them from the public purse".

Also, no mention of the fact that the Committee has invited Mrs Main to apologise in writing for these breaches.

And it's �7,100 not �7,000.

IAN WILLIAMS

Windridge Close, St Albans