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| MPs' expenses inquiry considered | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A wide-ranging inquiry into MPs' expenses is being considered by the independent Committee on Standards in Public Life, the BBC has learned. | A wide-ranging inquiry into MPs' expenses is being considered by the independent Committee on Standards in Public Life, the BBC has learned. |
| It comes after employment minister Tony McNulty said he had not broken any rules by claiming an allowance for a home in London where his parents live. | |
| It is understood the inquiry into the whole system of expenses and allowances is likely to begin in the autumn. | It is understood the inquiry into the whole system of expenses and allowances is likely to begin in the autumn. |
| The investigation could also consider MPs' pay and their office expenditure. | The investigation could also consider MPs' pay and their office expenditure. |
| Parliamentary duties | Parliamentary duties |
| Mr McNulty himself said the rules should be looked into after claiming a second-home allowance for the property in his Harrow East constituency, in north-west London. | |
| His main home is eight miles away in Hammersmith in west London. | His main home is eight miles away in Hammersmith in west London. |
| Mr McNulty received allowances worth thousands of pounds for the constituency home which he said he made "considerable" use of and that it allowed him to do his job more effectively. | Mr McNulty received allowances worth thousands of pounds for the constituency home which he said he made "considerable" use of and that it allowed him to do his job more effectively. |
| He stopped claiming the allowance in January because interest rates had fallen so much that he could afford to pay the mortgage from his MP's salary. | He stopped claiming the allowance in January because interest rates had fallen so much that he could afford to pay the mortgage from his MP's salary. |
| Under the current rules, the Additional Costs Allowance of up to £24,000 a year goes to MPs from outside inner London to cover the cost of staying away from their main home when carrying out parliamentary duties. | Under the current rules, the Additional Costs Allowance of up to £24,000 a year goes to MPs from outside inner London to cover the cost of staying away from their main home when carrying out parliamentary duties. |
| Tighter rules | Tighter rules |
| Only last month the committee decided against an inquiry after a meeting with the leader of the House of Commons, Harriet Harman. | Only last month the committee decided against an inquiry after a meeting with the leader of the House of Commons, Harriet Harman. |
| A new system of expenses with tighter rules is due to come into force on 1 April. | A new system of expenses with tighter rules is due to come into force on 1 April. |
| Earlier this year Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had to defend her actions after it emerged she had claimed about £116,000 in expenses for her family home in the West Midlands after declaring her sister's property in London - where she stayed four days a week - as her main residence. | Earlier this year Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had to defend her actions after it emerged she had claimed about £116,000 in expenses for her family home in the West Midlands after declaring her sister's property in London - where she stayed four days a week - as her main residence. |
| Ms Smith said the Commons' authorities had approved her conduct, while the parliamentary standards watchdog said there was no need for an investigation. | Ms Smith said the Commons' authorities had approved her conduct, while the parliamentary standards watchdog said there was no need for an investigation. |
| MPs' allowances became the subject of controversy when it emerged last year that Conservative Derek Conway had paid his sons to act as researchers while both were students. | MPs' allowances became the subject of controversy when it emerged last year that Conservative Derek Conway had paid his sons to act as researchers while both were students. |
| The Commons Standards and Privileges Committee found he had overpaid them and ordered him to repay some of the money. | The Commons Standards and Privileges Committee found he had overpaid them and ordered him to repay some of the money. |