1.   But the office allowance remained flat, agents contend, and as inflation drove their costs up, many began dipping into their own pockets.

2.   It approves most requests for funds for office allowances and other items, but rejects those it feels breach the bounds of propriety.

3.   The new rules allowed members to buy whatever they wanted from their office allowances.

4.   The rules also put a cap on agency-related expenses and material incentives, fringe benefits and office maintenance allowances.