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| Speaker pledges expenses actions | |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The Speaker of the House of Commons has told MPs that an "acceptable solution" must be found to the issue of expenses. | |
| In a statement, Michael Martin said the Estimates Committee, which he chairs, would be "discussing urgently how to proceed" later on Monday. | |
| It comes after husband and wife Tory MPs Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton defended using expenses for a flat, even though they had paid the mortgage. | It comes after husband and wife Tory MPs Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton defended using expenses for a flat, even though they had paid the mortgage. |
| The statement also follows a furore over MP Derek Conway's expenses. | |
| Mr Martin said "several" MPs had "expressed deep concerns about members' allowances". | |
| He added: "Similar anxiety about the system has been relayed to me privately. We must also take into account the public interest in public transparency." | |
| Defence | Defence |
| The Wintertons transferred their second home to a trust, to which they said they paid rent of £21,600 per year. | The Wintertons transferred their second home to a trust, to which they said they paid rent of £21,600 per year. |
| The couple said they had agreed the arrangement with the Commons Fees Office at the time it was set up. | The couple said they had agreed the arrangement with the Commons Fees Office at the time it was set up. |
| They said they would not have gone ahead unless this had been the case. | They said they would not have gone ahead unless this had been the case. |
| The pair issued a statement defending their actions, following articles about them in the Mail on Sunday. | The pair issued a statement defending their actions, following articles about them in the Mail on Sunday. |
| Before we proceeded, the arrangement was agreed by the Fees Office and we clearly would not have gone ahead unless this had been the case Sir Nicholas and Lady Winterton In full: Wintertons' statement | Before we proceeded, the arrangement was agreed by the Fees Office and we clearly would not have gone ahead unless this had been the case Sir Nicholas and Lady Winterton In full: Wintertons' statement |
| The Wintertons, who both represent constituencies in Cheshire, say the arrangement they made on their London flat came about following advice from their solicitor and accountants about their likely inheritance tax liability. | The Wintertons, who both represent constituencies in Cheshire, say the arrangement they made on their London flat came about following advice from their solicitor and accountants about their likely inheritance tax liability. |
| "As a result of the advice given to us, we paid off the mortgage on the flat with the proceeds of a small legacy and an insurance policy which had just matured," their statement said. | "As a result of the advice given to us, we paid off the mortgage on the flat with the proceeds of a small legacy and an insurance policy which had just matured," their statement said. |
| They were then advised to put the flat into a trust, administered by their solicitor and themselves, on behalf of "the beneficiaries". | They were then advised to put the flat into a trust, administered by their solicitor and themselves, on behalf of "the beneficiaries". |
| "We no longer own the flat and in order to meet the objectives and terms of the trust, we are obliged to pay the full market rent which is recommended by an independent valuer/estate agent," they said. | "We no longer own the flat and in order to meet the objectives and terms of the trust, we are obliged to pay the full market rent which is recommended by an independent valuer/estate agent," they said. |
| "The current rent is not £30,000 per annum as stated in the press articles, but is in fact £21,600 per annum. | "The current rent is not £30,000 per annum as stated in the press articles, but is in fact £21,600 per annum. |
| "Before we proceeded, the arrangement was agreed by the Fees Office and we clearly would not have gone ahead unless this had been the case. | "Before we proceeded, the arrangement was agreed by the Fees Office and we clearly would not have gone ahead unless this had been the case. |
| "If we did not use our present accommodation, we would have to rent or buy other accommodation, for which legitimate expenses could be claimed as now, and there is, therefore, no additional cost to the taxpayer from the present arrangement." | "If we did not use our present accommodation, we would have to rent or buy other accommodation, for which legitimate expenses could be claimed as now, and there is, therefore, no additional cost to the taxpayer from the present arrangement." |
| 'Ban' on relatives' work? | 'Ban' on relatives' work? |
| The couple said they often travel together by car off peak "saving both on mileage allowance and very substantially on the high cost of rail travel". | The couple said they often travel together by car off peak "saving both on mileage allowance and very substantially on the high cost of rail travel". |
| "It is also a fact that we are both in the lowest quartile as far as parliamentary expenses are concerned and we seek to use the allowances available as prudently and responsibly as possible." | "It is also a fact that we are both in the lowest quartile as far as parliamentary expenses are concerned and we seek to use the allowances available as prudently and responsibly as possible." |
| However, Tory leader David Cameron said sticking to the rules was not enough in itself. | However, Tory leader David Cameron said sticking to the rules was not enough in itself. |
| "Rules on their own are never enough; the whole point of transparency and accountability is that everyone should be comfortable defending the arrangements that they put in place," he said. | "Rules on their own are never enough; the whole point of transparency and accountability is that everyone should be comfortable defending the arrangements that they put in place," he said. |
| The Wintertons' statement comes as the Commons Estimates Committee, chaired by Speaker Michael Martin, is set to discuss several proposals for reform of the allowances system. | The Wintertons' statement comes as the Commons Estimates Committee, chaired by Speaker Michael Martin, is set to discuss several proposals for reform of the allowances system. |
| The MPs are likely to consider a ban on the recruitment of relatives to posts paid from the public purse. | The MPs are likely to consider a ban on the recruitment of relatives to posts paid from the public purse. |
| There is a plan for the National Audit Office to check up to 10% of expenses claims, and the cross-party MPs are expected to look at suggestions for a full register of MPs' parliamentary staff. | There is a plan for the National Audit Office to check up to 10% of expenses claims, and the cross-party MPs are expected to look at suggestions for a full register of MPs' parliamentary staff. |
| 'Not a crook' | 'Not a crook' |
| Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon is also expected to decide this week whether to instigate a second inquiry into Mr Conway, this time focusing on payments to his elder son Henry. | Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon is also expected to decide this week whether to instigate a second inquiry into Mr Conway, this time focusing on payments to his elder son Henry. |
| Reports have suggested that Scotland Yard may be delaying a decision on whether to launch an investigation into fraud allegations until Mr Lyon has made clear how he intends to proceed. | Reports have suggested that Scotland Yard may be delaying a decision on whether to launch an investigation into fraud allegations until Mr Lyon has made clear how he intends to proceed. |
| Last week's report by the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee said there was no record of Mr Conway's younger son Freddie, a full-time student at Newcastle University, doing work at Westminster in return for £40,000 of taxpayers' money. | Last week's report by the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee said there was no record of Mr Conway's younger son Freddie, a full-time student at Newcastle University, doing work at Westminster in return for £40,000 of taxpayers' money. |
| Mr Conway insists both Freddie, 22, and Henry 25, whom he employed earlier, did the work they were paid for. | Mr Conway insists both Freddie, 22, and Henry 25, whom he employed earlier, did the work they were paid for. |
| The Old Bexley and Sidcup MP, who says he will stand down at the next election, insists he has not broken the rules by employing his sons, telling the Mail on Sunday: "I am not a crook...I still believe I have done nothing wrong." | The Old Bexley and Sidcup MP, who says he will stand down at the next election, insists he has not broken the rules by employing his sons, telling the Mail on Sunday: "I am not a crook...I still believe I have done nothing wrong." |
| The leaders of all three major political parties have urged MPs to come clean about whether they employ family members, resulting in almost 180 confirming that they do. | The leaders of all three major political parties have urged MPs to come clean about whether they employ family members, resulting in almost 180 confirming that they do. |
| Tory MP Ben Wallace published his expenses in full, including payments to his researcher wife Liza. | Tory MP Ben Wallace published his expenses in full, including payments to his researcher wife Liza. |
| Ex-cabinet minister Peter Hain confirmed that his mother, Adelaine, 80, works for him as a part-time secretary and was paid £5,400 last year. | Ex-cabinet minister Peter Hain confirmed that his mother, Adelaine, 80, works for him as a part-time secretary and was paid £5,400 last year. |