This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7958390.stm
The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| MPs' expenses inquiry considered | MPs' expenses inquiry considered |
| (9 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 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. |
| Last month the committee - an independent body set up in the 1990s to look into parliamentary sleaze - decided against an inquiry after a meeting with Commons leader Harriet Harman. | Last month the committee - an independent body set up in the 1990s to look into parliamentary sleaze - decided against an inquiry after a meeting with Commons leader Harriet Harman. |
| Overnight stays | Overnight stays |
| Its former chairman, Sir Alistair Graham, told the BBC Mr McNulty had "questions to answer". | Its former chairman, Sir Alistair Graham, told the BBC Mr McNulty had "questions to answer". |
| "He talks about using it as a base to do constituency work, but he didn't say that he stayed overnight there," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. | "He talks about using it as a base to do constituency work, but he didn't say that he stayed overnight there," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. |
| "If he was not staying overnight there, and the claim is probably a bit dodgy anyway, there probably should be some money repaid." | "If he was not staying overnight there, and the claim is probably a bit dodgy anyway, there probably should be some money repaid." |
| SECOND HOMES ALLOWANCE MPs can claim up to £24,006 this yearCannot be claimed by 25 inner London MPsCovers rent, mortgage interest payments or hotel expensesCan cover repair and utility bills, furnishings, insuranceIncludes £25-a-night subsistence allowance, including food, for nights spent away from home class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7840678.stm">A guide to MPs' pay and expenses | |
| Mr McNulty said the rules should be looked into after claiming an estimated £60,000 since 2001 for the property in his Harrow East constituency, in north-west London. | Mr McNulty said the rules should be looked into after claiming an estimated £60,000 since 2001 for the property in his Harrow East constituency, in north-west London. |
| He lived with his parents in the Harrow house, which he owns, before his 2002 marriage to second wife Christine when he moved to her home in Hammersmith. | He lived with his parents in the Harrow house, which he owns, before his 2002 marriage to second wife Christine when he moved to her home in Hammersmith. |
| All MPs, apart from the 25 who represent inner London constituencies, can claim up to £24,000 a year in allowances towards the cost of staying away from home while on Parliamentary business. | All MPs, apart from the 25 who represent inner London constituencies, can claim up to £24,000 a year in allowances towards the cost of staying away from home while on Parliamentary business. |
| Although Mr McNulty's Harrow constituency is only 11 miles from Westminster, he does not count as an inner London MP. His main home is eight miles from Harrow in Hammersmith, west London. | Although Mr McNulty's Harrow constituency is only 11 miles from Westminster, he does not count as an inner London MP. His main home is eight miles from Harrow in Hammersmith, west London. |
| 'Nothing irregular' | 'Nothing irregular' |
| He said he made "considerable" use of the Harrow property and that it allowed him to do his job more effectively but said he had stopped claiming the allowance in January because the fall in interest rates meant he could afford to pay the mortgage from his MP's salary. | He said he made "considerable" use of the Harrow property and that it allowed him to do his job more effectively but said he had stopped claiming the allowance in January because the fall in interest rates meant he could afford to pay the mortgage from his MP's salary. |
| 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". |
| Alan Duncan: 'People should pay for their own homes' | Alan Duncan: 'People should pay for their own homes' |
| "There is absolutely nothing irregular in Tony's situation," he added. | "There is absolutely nothing irregular in Tony's situation," he added. |
| But shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan said it was not clear Mr McNulty had not broken the rules. "This allowance is for a second home, it is not for a constituency premises." | But shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan said it was not clear Mr McNulty had not broken the rules. "This allowance is for a second home, it is not for a constituency premises." |
| He said he personally felt the second home allowance would eventually have to be scrapped and MPs' salaries increased instead. | He said he personally felt the second home allowance would eventually have to be scrapped and MPs' salaries increased instead. |
| "I am not saying that is our policy, I'm not saying that's going to happen immediately, but this is the allowance that causes all the difficulty." | "I am not saying that is our policy, I'm not saying that's going to happen immediately, but this is the allowance that causes all the difficulty." |
| 'Stricter regime' | 'Stricter regime' |
| A new system of expenses is due to come into force on 1 April. Labour MP Don Touhig, who chairs the committee which advises on MPs' pay and allowances, told the BBC that would introduce a "much stricter regime" and would make MPs examine their behaviour. | A new system of expenses is due to come into force on 1 April. Labour MP Don Touhig, who chairs the committee which advises on MPs' pay and allowances, told the BBC that would introduce a "much stricter regime" and would make MPs examine their behaviour. |
| "The three questions MPs should ask now before making a claim is: Does the claim match the purpose of the allowance in question? Could the claim in any way damage the reputation of Parliament? And how comfortable do I feel with the knowledge that my claim will be available to the public under Freedom of Information? | "The three questions MPs should ask now before making a claim is: Does the claim match the purpose of the allowance in question? Could the claim in any way damage the reputation of Parliament? And how comfortable do I feel with the knowledge that my claim will be available to the public under Freedom of Information? |
| Tony McNulty: "I think I've complied entirely" | Tony McNulty: "I think I've complied entirely" |
| "These are three fundamental questions and I think every MP who makes a claim must answer those questions." | "These are three fundamental questions and I think every MP who makes a claim must answer those questions." |
| He said his committee would keep the Green Book of rules "under review" and if MPs had concerns they could make representations to it. | He said his committee would keep the Green Book of rules "under review" and if MPs had concerns they could make representations to it. |
| 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. | 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." |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I don't think it's the greed that gets to me but the lack of accountability and punishment Stefan Walker, Middlesbrough Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY I don't think it's the greed that gets to me but the lack of accountability and punishment Stefan Walker, Middlesbrough Send us your comments |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has defended claiming about £116,000 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. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has defended claiming about £116,000 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. |
| She said the Commons' authorities had approved her conduct, and the parliamentary standards watchdog has asked her to justify her arrangements. | She said the Commons' authorities had approved her conduct, and the parliamentary standards watchdog has asked her to justify her arrangements. |
| MPs' allowances became the subject of controversy when it emerged last year that Conservative MP 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 MP 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. |