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Cameron sets out expenses changes Cameron sets out expenses changes
(40 minutes later)
David Cameron has said all Tory front bench spokespeople will declare from July details of any Commons allowances spent - and any relatives they employ.David Cameron has said all Tory front bench spokespeople will declare from July details of any Commons allowances spent - and any relatives they employ.
The Conservatives will then publish details each April of the spending. Mr Cameron said he also hoped the rest of the party's MPs would follow suit.The Conservatives will then publish details each April of the spending. Mr Cameron said he also hoped the rest of the party's MPs would follow suit.
His move comes after Tory MP Derek Conway was suspended from the Commons.
The Commons standards committee has also recommended all MPs should declare any relatives employed, by April.The Commons standards committee has also recommended all MPs should declare any relatives employed, by April.
MP Derek Conway has been suspended over payments to his son from public funds. Mr Cameron said he wanted the declarations, to be made on a single form, to include what salary band employees were being paid.
Unveiling his plans after meetings with his shadow cabinet and backbench MPs Mr Cameron said he wanted the declarations, to be made on a single form, to include what salary band employees were being paid.
CAMERON'S PLANS Full list of staff, positions and salary bands to be publishedAny relatives employed to be revealedOffice running costs breakdownBreakdown of "additional costs allowance" for accommodationFirst declaration by JulyMPs urged to produce receipts for claims under £250CAMERON'S PLANS Full list of staff, positions and salary bands to be publishedAny relatives employed to be revealedOffice running costs breakdownBreakdown of "additional costs allowance" for accommodationFirst declaration by JulyMPs urged to produce receipts for claims under £250
He told reporters: "I completely understand that the public do have a greater right to know about the use of allowances, expenses, staff, costs and the like and so we do need to show greater transparency." He said the public had "a greater right to know" about the use of allowances and every front bench MP would need to name their staff, the position they held and where they worked.
He said every front bench MP would need to name their staff, the position they held and whether they worked in London or in the MPs' constituency. He said his front bench team would have to give a breakdown of accommodation, office, stationery and living costs and he would urge colleagues to produce receipts for claims of up to £250.
'Culture change' The House of Commons should eventually be responsible for employing MPs' staff, he added.
He said his front bench team would have to give a complete breakdown of accommodation, office, stationery and living costs and said he would be urging colleagues to produce receipts for claims of up to £250.
Members should not be able to vote on their own pay and the House of Commons should eventually be responsible for employing MPs' staff, he added.
MPs have had a very long time to sort this out and have been very reluctant to do so Sir Alistair GrahamFormer standards watchdog
"For many years, a culture grew up in Westminster where allowances were added because pay wasn't increased - and I think what we need to do is unwind and change that culture," he said."For many years, a culture grew up in Westminster where allowances were added because pay wasn't increased - and I think what we need to do is unwind and change that culture," he said.
Last week Derek Conway had the Tory whip withdrawn and was suspended from the Commons for 10 days over payments to his son, Freddie, out of his MP's allowance. Flat expenses
'Gripping the issue' Last week Mr Conway had the Tory whip withdrawn and was suspended from the Commons for 10 days over payments to his son, Freddie, out of his MP's allowance.
MPs are allowed to use public funds to employ relatives as secretaries or researchers, but at the moment there is no requirement to declare their employee is a relative. MPs can use public funds to employ relatives as secretaries or researchers, but at the moment there is no requirement to declare the relationship.
Mr Cameron later told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme that "a very small number" of Tory MPs "were not overly enthusiastic" about the proposals but said most were glad he was "gripping the issue".
OTHER PROPOSALS Speaker's Estimates Committee: Carrying out thorough review into allowances due to report back in autumnCommons standards committee:Recommending compulsory registration of relatives employed by MPs by 1 AprilLabour:Gordon Brown wants MPs to be "open and transparent". Will wait for results estimates committee review to come up with cross-party policyLib Dems:Nick Clegg has urged greater "transparency". Also propose ban on employing more than one relative, spot checks on expenses claims, all expenses over £50 to require a receiptOTHER PROPOSALS Speaker's Estimates Committee: Carrying out thorough review into allowances due to report back in autumnCommons standards committee:Recommending compulsory registration of relatives employed by MPs by 1 AprilLabour:Gordon Brown wants MPs to be "open and transparent". Will wait for results estimates committee review to come up with cross-party policyLib Dems:Nick Clegg has urged greater "transparency". Also propose ban on employing more than one relative, spot checks on expenses claims, all expenses over £50 to require a receipt
He said he could instruct only his frontbenchers to fill in the forms, but he hoped most backbenchers would follow their lead. More than 100 MPs do so - including Labour's Peter Hain who employs his 80-year-old mother as a part time secretary.
Former standards watchdog Sir Alistair Graham said it was "always useful" when a party leader sought to take the initiative but a cross-party agreement was needed, preferably based on recommendations from an independent body - such as the Committee on Standards in Public Life. And this week husband and wife Tory MPs Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton defended claiming back rent for a flat which they bought and then put into a trust.
Mr Cameron told the BBC's World at One he could instruct only his frontbenchers to fill in the forms, but he hoped most backbenchers would follow their lead.
He added that "a very small number" of Tory MPs "were not overly enthusiastic" about the proposals but said most were glad he was "gripping the issue".
'Reluctant' MPs
Former standards watchdog Sir Alistair Graham said a cross-party agreement was needed, preferably based on recommendations from an independent body - such as the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
"MPs have had a very long time to sort this out and have been very reluctant to do so, " he told the BBC."MPs have had a very long time to sort this out and have been very reluctant to do so, " he told the BBC.
'On the hoof' Mr Conway was reprimanded by a parliamentary committee
Meanwhile MPs on the Standards and Privileges Committee said it wanted all relatives employed by MPs using public money to be declared and published in a register by April this year - that recommendation would have to be voted on by MPs in the Commons to come into force. Meanwhile MPs on the Standards and Privileges Committee have proposed that all MPs' relatives employed using public money should be published in a register by April.
For the government, Commons leader Harriet Harman said they had already decided to extend a review into MPs' pay to cover their allowances as well. Commons leader Harriet Harman said the government had already decided to extend a review into MPs' pay to cover their allowances as well.
A review by the Commons estimates committee is expected to report back in the autumn. The "root and branch" review by the Commons estimates committee is expected to report back in the autumn.
I think it does need independent support rather than just being seen to be a proposal from inside the House of Commons Simon HughesLib Dems
Asked whether Labour would be introducing rules for its own MPs before then, she said House of Commons rules needed to apply to all MPs, rather than different rules for different parties.Asked whether Labour would be introducing rules for its own MPs before then, she said House of Commons rules needed to apply to all MPs, rather than different rules for different parties.
"We're not going to make up policy on the hoof for the sake of headlines," she said."We're not going to make up policy on the hoof for the sake of headlines," she said.
For the Lib Dems, Simon Hughes said he understood concerns that an inquiry into MPs' allowances by three MPs might do little to restore public confidence - and suggested the Committee on Standards in Public Life is given proposals and "forms a view". For the Lib Dems, Simon Hughes said he understood concerns that an inquiry into MPs' allowances by MPs might do little to restore public confidence.
"I think it does need independent support rather than just being seen to be a proposal from inside the House of Commons," he added. He suggested the estimates committee give its proposals to the independent Committee on Standards in Public Life which would then "form a view".
'Root and branch'
The Commons Standards and Privileges Committee - which rules on MPs' expenses - said there was no record of Freddie Conway, a full-time student at Newcastle University, doing work at Westminster for Mr Conway in return for £40,000 of taxpayers' money.
Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon is also expected to decide this week whether to instigate a second inquiry into Mr Conway, focusing on payments to his elder son Henry.
It also 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 couple transferred their second home - a flat in London - to a trust, to which they said they paid rent of £21,600 per year, but say they had agreed the arrangement with the Commons Fees Office.
It has since become known that well over 100 MPs employ a relative - including Labour's Peter Hain, who employs his 80-year-old mother as a part time secretary.
On Monday the Commons estimates committee launched a "root and branch" inquiry into all aspects of MPs' expenses.
The Lib Dems and Labour both say they back greater transparency over MPs' spending.