JIM KNIGHT: Hi-tech package 'was necessary' (From Thisisdorset)

JIM KNIGHT: Hi-tech package 'was necessary'

8:36am Friday 19th June 2009 in

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SOUTH Dorset MP Jim Knight has justified making a raft of hi-tech purchases – including a £7,000 printer and a video editing package – as part of his parliamentary expenses.

Details of Mr Knight’s purchases, now published online, show he spent £7,279 on a MZ770 two-colour system printer last January before spending £173 on services from Sherren printers in February 2008.

He also made claims for a government-issued BlackBerry phone as well as thousands of pounds on computer hardware and software, including £22 on AVS video editor software.

Mr Knight said he believes the expenses were reasonable to allow him to do his job.

He said: “The printer I bought is great for doing high-volume communications to my constituents but it’s not the same quality as lithographic printing and there are times when the higher-quality printing is justified.

“In terms of phones, I have a government issued BlackBerry, which is the only one secure enough to meet Cabinet rules, and I now use an iPhone as well and pay some of the bill myself.

“The video editing package was used to make a few packages for You Tube, but I wasn’t very impressed with the quality of it.”

Mr Knight’s other parliamentary expenses included a regular subscription to the Dorset Echo and £14.69 to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council for the disposal of five bags of confidential waste.

Mr Knight also claimed back £60 for hiring out Conifers Primary School’s hall for a constituency meeting, £45 on professional photography and £1,880 on promotional material used in a report.

He added: “I remain absolutely happy and confident that what I’ve put through on expenses was necessary for me to be able to do my job and communicate with my constituents.”