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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Expenses probe to be speeded up | Expenses probe to be speeded up |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Committee on Standards in Public Life has announced it plans to bring forward its inquiry into MPs' expenses. | The Committee on Standards in Public Life has announced it plans to bring forward its inquiry into MPs' expenses. |
| Chairman Sir Christopher Kelly said it was "now obvious" work had to go ahead "as soon as possible". | Chairman Sir Christopher Kelly said it was "now obvious" work had to go ahead "as soon as possible". |
| The committee had been due to start its inquiry in the autumn but Gordon Brown wrote to Sir Christopher asking for progress "as soon as practical". | The committee had been due to start its inquiry in the autumn but Gordon Brown wrote to Sir Christopher asking for progress "as soon as practical". |
| The news comes as it is claimed details of all MPs' expenses receipts are being offered for sale for up to £300,000. | The news comes as it is claimed details of all MPs' expenses receipts are being offered for sale for up to £300,000. |
| Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell, who sits on the Speaker's Commons Estimates Committee, told the BBC it was investigating the reports. | Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell, who sits on the Speaker's Commons Estimates Committee, told the BBC it was investigating the reports. |
| Films claim | Films claim |
| The standards committee's decision to bring forward its inquiry follows revelations about the use of second-home allowances by ministers. | The standards committee's decision to bring forward its inquiry follows revelations about the use of second-home allowances by ministers. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was criticised for claiming more than £116,000 for her family home in the West Midlands after nominating her sister's property in London - which she shared - as her main residence. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was criticised for claiming more than £116,000 for her family home in the West Midlands after nominating her sister's property in London - which she shared - as her main residence. |
| It has emerged that she also mistakenly claimed expenses for adult films watched by her husband at the house in her constituency of Redditch, Worcestershire. The money has been repaid. | It has emerged that she also mistakenly claimed expenses for adult films watched by her husband at the house in her constituency of Redditch, Worcestershire. The money has been repaid. |
| This is not something which can be done with a quick fix Sir Christopher KellyCommittee on Standards in Public Life Guide: Europe's MPs' pay A guide to MPs' expenses | This is not something which can be done with a quick fix Sir Christopher KellyCommittee on Standards in Public Life Guide: Europe's MPs' pay A guide to MPs' expenses |
| Earlier this month it emerged that employment minister Tony McNulty had claimed the second-home allowance towards his parents' house in Harrow, north-west London, which he used in addition to a flat in central London. | Earlier this month it emerged that employment minister Tony McNulty had claimed the second-home allowance towards his parents' house in Harrow, north-west London, which he used in addition to a flat in central London. |
| Sir Christopher told the BBC: "It may be the case that, in the past, some Members of Parliament regarded expenses as part of their salary in the belief that they weren't paid enough... | Sir Christopher told the BBC: "It may be the case that, in the past, some Members of Parliament regarded expenses as part of their salary in the belief that they weren't paid enough... |
| "I've no doubt the recommendations we produce will be challenging." | "I've no doubt the recommendations we produce will be challenging." |
| He added: "We intend to do a fundamental, wide-ranging and independent review." | He added: "We intend to do a fundamental, wide-ranging and independent review." |
| He said there were several different options to consider but that people would "find it hard to understand that any group of people could take responsibility for fixing their own allowances". | |
| In a statement, Sir Christopher said: "It's now obvious that this piece of work needs to start as soon as possible. We're going to defer work on the current inquiry to begin work immediately." | In a statement, Sir Christopher said: "It's now obvious that this piece of work needs to start as soon as possible. We're going to defer work on the current inquiry to begin work immediately." |
| He also said: "The situation has changed quite dramatically over the last few months and I am pleased that there is now such widespread political consensus on the need for reform." | He also said: "The situation has changed quite dramatically over the last few months and I am pleased that there is now such widespread political consensus on the need for reform." |
| Sir Christopher added: "This is not something which can be done with a quick fix; we want to do a thorough piece of work. Our firm intention is to publish our report towards the end of the year." | Sir Christopher added: "This is not something which can be done with a quick fix; we want to do a thorough piece of work. Our firm intention is to publish our report towards the end of the year." |
| 'Laughing stock' | |
| However, several MPs say the situation needs resolving sooner. | |
| It needs fixing urgently before we become an absolute laughing stock Tony Wright, Labour MP | |
| "There is a reform agenda waiting to be implemented," said Labour's Tony Wright, chairman of the public administration committee, urging the committee to report this summer. | |
| "Exactly what we want is a quick fix," he told the BBC. | |
| "The system is broken. It needs fixing urgently before we become an absolute laughing stock." | |
| Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb said Parliament would "destroy itself" in the public's eyes unless changes to the system of MP's allowances were agreed soon. | |
| "We must show we are capable of reform," he said. | |
| Newspapers have reported a string of allegations about allowances in recent weeks, fuelling speculation that information might be being leaked by officials within Parliament. | Newspapers have reported a string of allegations about allowances in recent weeks, fuelling speculation that information might be being leaked by officials within Parliament. |
| These have prompted calls for a reform of the second-home allowance - known as the additional costs allowance - which covers up to £23,083 of the cost of an MP staying away from their main residence to perform their parliamentary duties. | These have prompted calls for a reform of the second-home allowance - known as the additional costs allowance - which covers up to £23,083 of the cost of an MP staying away from their main residence to perform their parliamentary duties. |
| The row intensified when official figures published on Monday showed the total expenses claimed by MPs went up 6% in 2007-8, to just over £93m. | The row intensified when official figures published on Monday showed the total expenses claimed by MPs went up 6% in 2007-8, to just over £93m. |
| In his letter to Sir Christopher, Mr Brown urged the committee to consider replacing second-home payments with a "simpler overnight allowance" which would be independently determined. | In his letter to Sir Christopher, Mr Brown urged the committee to consider replacing second-home payments with a "simpler overnight allowance" which would be independently determined. |
| 'Grateful' | 'Grateful' |
| He also suggested all London MPs should receive the same allowance, ending the current distinction which allows those in outer London to make the additional claim for a second home. | He also suggested all London MPs should receive the same allowance, ending the current distinction which allows those in outer London to make the additional claim for a second home. |
| Mr Brown said: "I would be grateful if you could look to both start and conclude the review earlier than previously indicated to allow us to make progress on the issue as soon as practical". | Mr Brown said: "I would be grateful if you could look to both start and conclude the review earlier than previously indicated to allow us to make progress on the issue as soon as practical". |
| The Commons authorities have been working to prepare around a million receipts filed by MPs for publication, after losing a long-running freedom of information battle to keep them secret. | The Commons authorities have been working to prepare around a million receipts filed by MPs for publication, after losing a long-running freedom of information battle to keep them secret. |
| The documents have now started being circulating to members for them to check and make representations on which parts should be deleted for security and other reasons. | The documents have now started being circulating to members for them to check and make representations on which parts should be deleted for security and other reasons. |
| Last July, MPs voted against a proposal by the Members Estimate Committee to replace the second-home allowance with an overnight expenses allowance of £19,600 a year for accommodation. | Last July, MPs voted against a proposal by the Members Estimate Committee to replace the second-home allowance with an overnight expenses allowance of £19,600 a year for accommodation. |
| They also voted to have their spending looked at only by internal, rather than external, auditors. | They also voted to have their spending looked at only by internal, rather than external, auditors. |