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Expenses inquiry moves to Belfast Expenses inquiry moves to Belfast
(20 minutes 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.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."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."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.""So we're hoping Sir Christopher Kelly will run with very clear black and white recommendations arising out of his inquiry."
'Clauses''Clauses'
The Belfast Telegraph newspaper's investigations correspondent, David Gordon, will also be giving evidence in a personal capacity.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.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."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.
Sir Christoper Kelly said the Sinn Fein issue "raised questions well beyond the standards issues" and that while he could comment on the standards aspect "political issues are for politicians to decide".
He said he believed that an increasing number of MPs now "got it" about the expenses situation.
"I think transparency is the thing that will bring about the greatest change," he said.
"One of the issues we'll be looking at is the extent to which that principle was followed through in the most recent set of published receipts."
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.