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MPs face tougher receipts rules MPs face tougher receipts rules
(20 minutes later)
MPs will have to submit receipts for expenses claims over £25 from 1 April, the Commons Members Estimate Committee has announced. The amount of expenses MPs can claim without a receipt is to be cut from £250 to £50 from 1 April, the Commons Members Estimates Committee has said.
The limit for making claims without a receipt is currently £250 and had been expected to be cut to about £50. It ruled out bringing in receipts for all claims as MPs incur cash expenses "for which receipts are not given".
The review of expenses was set up by House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin following revelations over Tory MP Derek Conway's payments to his son. The committee also said the amount of petty cash MPs can draw for office expenses would be reduced from £250 to £50 per month.
A full report on reforming MPs' expenses is expected by the summer. The review of expenses is chaired by Commons Speaker Michael Martin.
Figures
The committee said it had considered three figures when reducing the limit on expenses without a receipt: £100, £50 and £25.
We have considered whether the threshold should be zero but ruled it out for practical reasons Commons Members Estimate Committee
In its interim report, it said: "We have heard from Members from all sides of the House that they already submit receipts with their claims.
"Members have also spoken of their experience in previous jobs outside the House which suggest that in other occupations all receipts would be submitted with claims or certainly for all claims over £25."
It added: "We have considered whether the threshold should be zero but ruled it out for practical reasons.
"Members working both in the constituency and at the House and travelling between the two do incur small costs which are normally paid in cash and for which receipts are not given."
The new limit must be "under-pinned by a more robust regime for audit", the committee added.
A full report on reforming MPs' expenses is expected by the summer, with another interim report at the end of this month.