Original sentence: At no stage did I claim for the flooring and it did not cost the taxpayer a penny.However, he maintained that: “It was obvious to me that some of the work [redecorating his second home] would be claimable and some would not.I did not in any way question or challenge the advice that she gave and therefore did not claim for the biggest single item – namely, the wooden flooring.I therefore submitted the estimate to the [Validation Officer in the] Fees Office with a request for their guidance as to what was appropriate to claim and what was not.” (Note: the purpose of the Additional Costs Allowance was to enable MPs to meet the costs of running and equipping a second home either in London or in the relevant constituency
Edited sentence: A senior Commons official also confirmed that, by seeking advice in advance about second home expenditure, he had acted "in accordance with best practice as recommended by this department" and that "it is not true that you attempted to claim £6000 in expenses for a wooden floor at your second home".However, he maintained that: “At no stage did I claim for the flooring and it did not cost the taxpayer a penny.” At the end of June 2009, Dr Lewis was informed by the Conservative Party's Scrutiny Panel, after examination of his expenses claims, that "we do not require you to answer any queries about them and there is no requirement for any repayments to be made"