EXPENSES-PAID VISITS TO ROME, FLORENCE AND JERSEY - THE PERKS OF BEING AN MP

                                   

High-speed train or gravy train? Railway enthusiast Martin Vickers

ONE of the highlights of last summer for Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers was a three-day trip to Rome and Florence.

As chairman of the All-Party Rail Group, he went on a fact-finding visit to a Hitachi factory in Italy to view construction of their high-speed trains and to sample  a journey on the country's high-speed network.

The trip between June-15 is recorded inn the latest  Register of  Members' Interests which notes that he was reimbursed by Hitachi for his travel and subsistence to the tune of  £998.

With his expert knowledge of railways, the MP is  able to  speak authoritatively in the Commons.

At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, he welcomed the Government's decision to press ahead with the controversial HS2 rail project while lamenting that, once completed, it is unlikely to bring any benefits to his constituency.

He also took the opportunity to remind the Prime Minister of his pre-Election pledge to ensure the re-opening of the pedestrian rail crossing at Suggitts Lane, just outside Cleethorpes Station.

MP is backing campaign for crossing to be reopened

Also entered by the MP in the Register is his visit to Jersey between May 9-12 last year.

His flights, accommodation, subsistence and travel costs of approximately £1,015.25 were paid for by the Government of Jersey.

The purpose of the visit was to attend events commemorating Liberation Day which is held annually to mark liberation from occupation of the Channel Islands by the Nazis during the 1939-45 war.