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| MPs' expenses inquiry considered | MPs' expenses inquiry considered |
| (about 1 hour 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 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. |
| It comes as employment minister Tony McNulty says he did not break any rules by claiming an allowance for a home in London where his parents live. | It comes as employment minister Tony McNulty says he did not break any rules by claiming an allowance for a home in London where his parents live. |
| 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. | 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, west London. | His main home is eight miles away in Hammersmith, west London. |
| Parliamentary duties | Parliamentary duties |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Tony McNulty: "I think I've complied entirely" | Tony McNulty: "I think I've complied entirely" |
| Sir Alistair Graham, a former chairman of the standards committee, said it was unclear whether Mr McNulty had stayed overnight at his parents' home, as is required to claim the additional costs allowance. | Sir Alistair Graham, a former chairman of the standards committee, said it was unclear whether Mr McNulty had stayed overnight at his parents' home, as is required to claim the additional costs allowance. |
| "If he wasn't staying overnight there... he probably should be paying some money back," he said. | "If he wasn't staying overnight there... he probably should be paying some money back," he said. |
| Mr McNulty could claim other allowances to pay for a base to do constituency work, he said. | Mr McNulty could claim other allowances to pay for a base to do constituency work, he said. |
| But - given that the minister already had a constituency office - Sir Alistair added: "There's some real questions he's going to have to answer." | But - given that the minister already had a constituency office - Sir Alistair added: "There's some real questions he's going to have to answer." |
| Mr McNulty's spokesman has said the MP is "completely compliant with all the regulations around the allowances for second homes". | Mr McNulty's spokesman has said the MP is "completely compliant with all the regulations around the allowances for second homes". |
| "There is absolutely nothing irregular in Tony's situation," he added. | "There is absolutely nothing irregular in Tony's situation," he added. |
| Sir Alistair said he warned in his last speech as chairman in 2007 that the "absurd" system of MPs overseeing their own expenses was undermining public confidence. | Sir Alistair said he warned in his last speech as chairman in 2007 that the "absurd" system of MPs overseeing their own expenses was undermining public confidence. |
| "It has to be people outside of parliament who can look after the broader public interest that really should lay this matter down, rather than [MPs] doing it themselves." | "It has to be people outside of parliament who can look after the broader public interest that really should lay this matter down, rather than [MPs] doing it themselves." |
| Controversy | Controversy |
| In 2006, Sir Alistair warned then-Prime Minister Tony Blair that he had paid a "heavy price" for ignoring the importance of upholding standards and that Labour was being seen as "sleazy". | In 2006, Sir Alistair warned then-Prime Minister Tony Blair that he had paid a "heavy price" for ignoring the importance of upholding standards and that Labour was being seen as "sleazy". |
| Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, in south London, said: "There ought to be a straightforward 'no second home' claim for people who are in London at all, unless they can show that getting home at a reasonable time isn't practical. | |
| "Then they need to show that what they have is a second home... not their family home, not their mum's home." | "Then they need to show that what they have is a second home... not their family home, not their mum's home." |
| 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. |