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MPs to give Spelman nanny verdict Spelman 'must repay some money'
(about 3 hours later)
An MPs' report into allegations that Tory frontbencher Caroline Spelman used public money to pay for a nanny is expected to be published on Tuesday. Caroline Spelman must repay some of the Commons expenses she used to pay for nannying work but any breach of the rules was "inadvertent", MPs will say.
The standards and privileges committee deferred publication of the report into the shadow communities and local government secretary last week. The BBC understands the senior Tory will not have to apologise over her use of public money ten years ago.
Mrs Spelman referred allegations she had misused expenses to Parliament's watchdog in a bid to clear her name. She had denied wrongdoing and had referred allegations to Parliament's watchdog in a bid to clear her name.
She denies wrongdoing, saying the money only paid for secretarial work. She said payments to ex-constituency secretary Tina Haynes between 1997 and 1998 were for secretarial work.
Last week the committee discussed the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner's findings on the matter for two hours before deciding to defer publication. The allegation was that she worked primarily as a nanny while being paid as a part-time constituency secretary.
Last week the standards and privileges committee discussed the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner's findings on the matter for two hours before deciding to defer publication.
It is expected to be published at 1800 GMT.
The cross-party body has the power to punish MPs who break the rules.The cross-party body has the power to punish MPs who break the rules.
Mrs Spelman, MP for Meriden in the West Midlands, has insisted that former constituency secretary Tina Haynes was only paid with public funds for secretarial work between 1997 and 1998. Mrs Spelman, MP for Meriden in the West Midlands and shadow communities and local government secretary, has insisted that Ms Haynes was only paid with public funds for secretarial work between 1997 and 1998.
Her nannying duties were rewarded separately with free board and lodging, she has said.Her nannying duties were rewarded separately with free board and lodging, she has said.
'Misinterpretation''Misinterpretation'
But asked by the BBC last year about the extent of her administration duties, Ms Haynes said she had only posted letters, "took the odd phone call" and passed on messages "once or twice a week".But asked by the BBC last year about the extent of her administration duties, Ms Haynes said she had only posted letters, "took the odd phone call" and passed on messages "once or twice a week".
Critics have also pointed out that Ms Haynes was working at Mrs Spelman's family home in Kent, some 140 miles from her constituency.Critics have also pointed out that Ms Haynes was working at Mrs Spelman's family home in Kent, some 140 miles from her constituency.
The arrangement ended after the Conservative Party's chief whip told Mrs Spelman it could be "open to misinterpretation", and she appointed a new constituency secretary.The arrangement ended after the Conservative Party's chief whip told Mrs Spelman it could be "open to misinterpretation", and she appointed a new constituency secretary.
Mrs Spelman referred the allegation herself to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon last year in a move to clear her name.Mrs Spelman referred the allegation herself to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon last year in a move to clear her name.
She said she had been right to use her parliamentary allowance to pay Ms Haynes as she had done secretarial work.She said she had been right to use her parliamentary allowance to pay Ms Haynes as she had done secretarial work.
Mr Lyon's office said the decision to investigate was "exceptional", given it had not received a formal complaint about her conduct and the events had taken place more than seven years before.Mr Lyon's office said the decision to investigate was "exceptional", given it had not received a formal complaint about her conduct and the events had taken place more than seven years before.