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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Expenses inquiry moves to Belfast | Expenses inquiry moves to Belfast |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Local politicians are due to give evidence to the committee investigating MPs' expenses at a public hearing in Belfast later. | Local politicians are due to give evidence to the committee investigating MPs' expenses at a public hearing in Belfast later. |
| The DUP, however, will not appear before the Committee on Standards in Public Life, which is chaired by Sir Christopher Kelly. | The DUP, however, will not appear before the Committee on Standards in Public Life, which is chaired by Sir Christopher Kelly. |
| The party has chosen to give evidence at a later hearing in London. | The party has chosen to give evidence at a later hearing in London. |
| Revelations about MPs' claims for moat-cleaning and duck houses for second homes drew attention to the inquiry. | Revelations about MPs' claims for moat-cleaning and duck houses for second homes drew attention to the inquiry. |
| The committee will hear evidence from the Progressive Unionists, the Ulster Unionists, Sinn Fein and the SDLP. | The committee will hear evidence from the Progressive Unionists, the Ulster Unionists, Sinn Fein and the SDLP. |
| The SDLP MP for South Belfast, Alisdair McDonnell, said "honest and fair" recommendations were needed. | |
| "I believe things have fallen apart in the House of Commons over the last number of years," he said. | |
| "The expenses system has been abused, that is now crystal clear, we don't want that because those of us that are honest, above board find ourselves contaminated. | |
| "So we're hoping Sir Christopher Kelly will run with very clear black and white recommendations arising out of his inquiry." | |
| 'Clauses' | |
| The Belfast Telegraph newspaper's investigations correspondent, David Gordon, will also be giving evidence in a personal capacity. | |
| Writing in the paper he said there should not be any "devolution get-out clauses" and that NI had been left behind in how frameworks for public life had developed. | |
| "We still have total secrecy over donations to our political parties even though those parties are now in power in Stormont," he said. | |
| In a letter to the committee, DUP leader Peter Robinson argued that Sinn Fein MPs who do not take their seats should not receive any money, including expenses. | In a letter to the committee, DUP leader Peter Robinson argued that Sinn Fein MPs who do not take their seats should not receive any money, including expenses. |
| He also pledged that no DUP MPs will hold double mandates by the 2015 assembly election. | He also pledged that no DUP MPs will hold double mandates by the 2015 assembly election. |
| In their submission, the SDLP made a range of proposals including the suggestion that MPs should be able to employ only one member of their family. | In their submission, the SDLP made a range of proposals including the suggestion that MPs should be able to employ only one member of their family. |