Bill English

Wellington, Sept 25 NZPA - The Auditor-General's office is seeking more information before deciding whether to investigate a complaint against Finance Minister Bill English over housing allowances.

Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton has written to Auditor-General Lyn Provost asking for an inquiry into whether Mr English meets the criteria for being an out-of-town MP.

Mr English considers the Southland town of Dipton, in his electorate, to be his primary residence under parliamentary rules.

Mr Anderton argues that since his family is in Wellington, he should be treated as a Wellington-based MP and should not have received any allowances for living in the capital.

A spokeswoman for the Auditor-General told NZPA that no decision had been taken about whether told hold an inquiry, but it was seen as appropriate to gather background information.

"Once we have had an opportunity to consider that information we will decide whether any further action by this office, such as beginning a formal inquiry, is warranted," the spokeswoman said.

This is expected to take a fortnight.

Deputy Auditor-General Phillipa Smith said in a letter to Mr Anderton that when he first raised the matter, her office had encouraged him to take up the matter with Parliamentary Service as it was the responsible organisation.

Mr Anderton had not done that and the Auditor General would now gather background information on how MPs and ministers were paid accommodation benefits.

A decision on whether a formal inquiry was needed would be given priority as there was a "measure of public interest in this issue".

Mr English has been embroiled in a row over housing allowances for the past two months after it was revealed he was claiming a much higher allowance for living in the same house as a minister than he lived in as an opposition MP.

He admitted that was "a bad look" and paid back the $12,000 difference in allowances.

Prime Minister John Key has since reformed the rules around ministerial housing to a series of one-off payments.

Since then opposition MPs have argued Mr English is not entitled to any ministerial housing allowance as his family home is in Wellington.

They contend Mr English has arranged his affairs to get the entitlement by declaring he has no pecuniary interest in the house he lives in.

Mr English says he has followed all the rules.

NZPA