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| MPs 'should not employ children' | MPs 'should not employ children' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MPs should not be able to employ their children using taxpayers' money, the government has said. | MPs should not be able to employ their children using taxpayers' money, the government has said. |
| This follows anger over abuses of MPs' allowances and the publicly funded jobs taken by some of their relatives. | This follows anger over abuses of MPs' allowances and the publicly funded jobs taken by some of their relatives. |
| But MPs would be able to continue employing spouses and partners, under Commons leader Harriet Harman's plans. | But MPs would be able to continue employing spouses and partners, under Commons leader Harriet Harman's plans. |
| A consultation paper issued by her office said the employment of daughters and sons by MPs was damaging to the reputation of the House of Commons. | A consultation paper issued by her office said the employment of daughters and sons by MPs was damaging to the reputation of the House of Commons. |
| It also flagged up the furore over Tory MP Derek Conway, who paid his son more than £40,000 out of his staffing allowance for work as a parliamentary researcher, despite him being a full-time student in Newcastle. | It also flagged up the furore over Tory MP Derek Conway, who paid his son more than £40,000 out of his staffing allowance for work as a parliamentary researcher, despite him being a full-time student in Newcastle. |
| MPs' children should no longer be able to gain paid employment in their parent's constituency or parliamentary offices, or in any other role relating to the parent's work as an MP Harman consultation paper | MPs' children should no longer be able to gain paid employment in their parent's constituency or parliamentary offices, or in any other role relating to the parent's work as an MP Harman consultation paper |
| Mr Conway was suspended from Parliament for 10 days and was ordered to repay £13,161. He also lost the Conservative whip. | Mr Conway was suspended from Parliament for 10 days and was ordered to repay £13,161. He also lost the Conservative whip. |
| The paper warned: "Whilst spouses may have the skills, experience or qualifications to make them the most appropriate candidate for work in their partners' parliamentary or constituency office, this is less likely to apply to MPs' children whether under 18 or young adults. | The paper warned: "Whilst spouses may have the skills, experience or qualifications to make them the most appropriate candidate for work in their partners' parliamentary or constituency office, this is less likely to apply to MPs' children whether under 18 or young adults. |
| "Furthermore, recent incidents involving the employment by MPs of their children demonstrate clearly the negative impact this has on public confidence in members. | "Furthermore, recent incidents involving the employment by MPs of their children demonstrate clearly the negative impact this has on public confidence in members. |
| "The proposal is therefore that MPs' children should no longer be able to gain paid employment in their parent's constituency or parliamentary offices, or in any other role relating to the parent's work as an MP." | "The proposal is therefore that MPs' children should no longer be able to gain paid employment in their parent's constituency or parliamentary offices, or in any other role relating to the parent's work as an MP." |
| If the reform is adopted, it would affect at least 22 MPs who currently keep their children as researchers, secretaries and assistants. | If the reform is adopted, it would affect at least 22 MPs who currently keep their children as researchers, secretaries and assistants. |
| Office manager | |
| Some MPs have given jobs to more than one of their children - at least 14 daughters, nine sons, one daughter-in-law and one son-in-law are employed by MPs. | Some MPs have given jobs to more than one of their children - at least 14 daughters, nine sons, one daughter-in-law and one son-in-law are employed by MPs. |
| There may be others though, as there has not yet been a publication of the Register of Members' Interests since the declaration of staff-relatives became compulsory on 1 August. | There may be others though, as there has not yet been a publication of the Register of Members' Interests since the declaration of staff-relatives became compulsory on 1 August. |
| About 193 MPs have so far disclosed that they employ family members, spouses or partners out of the public purse - but only those who take on their children will be targeted. | |
| They include: Children's Minister Beverley Hughes, whose daughter is her part-time office manager. | |
| Sir George Young, Tory chair of the Standards and Privileges committee, employs his daughter as office manager. | |
| 'John Lewis' list | |
| Veteran DUP MP Rev Ian Paisley lists two daughters and a son as working for him. | |
| Fellow DUP MPs, Peter and Iris Robinson - who are married - employ two sons, a daughter and a daughter-in-law between them. | |
| MPs now have a staffing allowance worth £10,205 a year to pay for assistants. | |
| From October, MPs will be required for the first time to provide the Commons with details of their employees' job descriptions and contracts. | |
| The proposal comes as Ms Harman launched a consultation on tighter controls of the £93m parliamentary expenses regime. | |
| It follows a review of their allowances which culminated last month in members abandoning, under pressure from the government and party-leaders, the controversial "John Lewis" list, where they can claim up to £24,000 a year to furnish second homes. | |
| Trust | |
| They instead backed a government proposal to recommend limiting the maximum to be spent on furnishings to £2,400 a year. | |
| Ms Harman said the government was consulting with MPs about the cap and the need for receipts to be produced for all claims for reimbursement from the public purse. | |
| "MPs play a vital role in our democracy - representing their constituents, legislating and scrutinising the executive," she said. | |
| "To do this, they must have the resources to do their work effectively, and they must command the confidence, respect and trust of the public. | |
| "We need arrangements which achieve both these aims." |