Wed, 16 Sep 2009 7:46p.m.
The Labour Party is continuing to probe the details of Finance Minister Bill English's housing arrangements and today he had to again explain the allowance he draws.
The $1.2 million house in Wellington's Karori suburb is owned by a family trust.
Mr English has signed documents saying he has no financial interest in the trust.
In Parliament today Labour MP Pete Hodgson raised questions about Mr English's situation.
Prime Minister John Key said the issue was simple. "It is whether the member (Mr English) has a pecuniary interest. He does not."
Questioned by reporters, Mr English said he was getting an MP's allowance like all the others.
"I am treated the same as every other MP," he said.
"I am getting the same allowance as everyone else.
"As I said, I never had a pecuniary interest in the trust so it didn't make any difference to the allowance."
Mr English now receives a housing allowance of $24,000, which he would get regardless of who owned the house.
Mr English was initially drawing a $700-a-week rent payment under the vague rules that covered ministerial allowances.
He acknowledged that it "wasn't a good look" and reverted to the same allowance he was getting when he was an opposition MP.
He paid back about $12,000, which was the difference between the two allowances.
Since then Mr Key has announced new rules which are more simple and transparent. Ministers can receive a maximum $37,500 a year.
NZPA