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| Watchdog warning on MPs' expenses | Watchdog warning on MPs' expenses |
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| Proposed reforms to MPs' second homes expenses may not go far enough, says the independent committee which spent seven months investigating them. | Proposed reforms to MPs' second homes expenses may not go far enough, says the independent committee which spent seven months investigating them. |
| Sir Christopher Kelly's committee said some proposals were "less robust" than it had envisaged. | Sir Christopher Kelly's committee said some proposals were "less robust" than it had envisaged. |
| The reforms were drawn up by a separate group given the job of implementing Sir Christopher's recommendations. | The reforms were drawn up by a separate group given the job of implementing Sir Christopher's recommendations. |
| But Sir Christopher suggests the proposals may be "more generous" than current rules to some MPs. | But Sir Christopher suggests the proposals may be "more generous" than current rules to some MPs. |
| Sir Christopher's committee on standards in public life held an independent inquiry into MPs' allowances and put forward a series of proposals to overhaul the system - following the expenses scandal last summer. | Sir Christopher's committee on standards in public life held an independent inquiry into MPs' allowances and put forward a series of proposals to overhaul the system - following the expenses scandal last summer. |
| 'Reasonable commute' | 'Reasonable commute' |
| These included banning MPs from buying second homes and claiming back mortgage interest payments, banning them from employing relatives and extending the number of constituencies whose MPs are not allowed to claim for a second home. | These included banning MPs from buying second homes and claiming back mortgage interest payments, banning them from employing relatives and extending the number of constituencies whose MPs are not allowed to claim for a second home. |
| But the proposals were handed over to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) to decide which to take forward and are subject to public consultation. | But the proposals were handed over to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) to decide which to take forward and are subject to public consultation. |
| Many people commute every day from places outsize zone six while still enjoying travel to work times no greater than some who do Committee on Standards in Public Life class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8492622.stm">Brown plans vote system shake-up class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8494121.stm">Doubts over MP reform proposals | |
| In its response, Sir Christopher's committee said as all three main party leaders had endorsed its recommendations "we continue to believe that they should be implemented in full". | In its response, Sir Christopher's committee said as all three main party leaders had endorsed its recommendations "we continue to believe that they should be implemented in full". |
| MPs with constituencies within 20 miles of Westminster cannot claim for a second home - Sir Christopher's committee had recommended extending that slightly to cover MPs within "reasonable commuting distance" of Parliament. | MPs with constituencies within 20 miles of Westminster cannot claim for a second home - Sir Christopher's committee had recommended extending that slightly to cover MPs within "reasonable commuting distance" of Parliament. |
| It said the reason was "that MPs should be treated in the same manner as other citizens". | It said the reason was "that MPs should be treated in the same manner as other citizens". |
| 'Less robust' | 'Less robust' |
| But Ipsa has since suggested only those within London transport zones one to six should be stopped from claiming - so MPs in seats with good transport links to London, like Guildford, would be able to claim for a second home. | But Ipsa has since suggested only those within London transport zones one to six should be stopped from claiming - so MPs in seats with good transport links to London, like Guildford, would be able to claim for a second home. |
| The committee on standards in public life said it had "envisaged Ipsa undertaking an evidence-based review of commuting distance" and while basing it on travel zones had "the advantage of simplicity ... it appears to be less restrictive than Parliament has already agreed and less robust than the committee had envisaged". | The committee on standards in public life said it had "envisaged Ipsa undertaking an evidence-based review of commuting distance" and while basing it on travel zones had "the advantage of simplicity ... it appears to be less restrictive than Parliament has already agreed and less robust than the committee had envisaged". |
| Sir Ian says he does believe MPs should not employ relatives | Sir Ian says he does believe MPs should not employ relatives |
| "Many people commute every day from places outsize zone six while still enjoying travel to work times no greater than some who do," it said. | "Many people commute every day from places outsize zone six while still enjoying travel to work times no greater than some who do," it said. |
| It also said that MPs should rent, not buy second homes at taxpayers' expense and said those that own them should sell them within a "transitional period" of up to five years - but give up any profit earned on them during that time. | It also said that MPs should rent, not buy second homes at taxpayers' expense and said those that own them should sell them within a "transitional period" of up to five years - but give up any profit earned on them during that time. |
| Ipsa chairman Sir Ian Kennedy has said he is committed to the idea, but the consultation suggests it should be for Parliament to decide whether that happens. | Ipsa chairman Sir Ian Kennedy has said he is committed to the idea, but the consultation suggests it should be for Parliament to decide whether that happens. |
| Sir Christopher's committee says giving up any new profits was a "quid pro quo without which the transitional period of five years proposed becomes much more difficult to justify". | Sir Christopher's committee says giving up any new profits was a "quid pro quo without which the transitional period of five years proposed becomes much more difficult to justify". |
| As an interim measure, Ipsa should refuse to pay out mortgage interest claims unless MPs agreed to hand over any capital gains made, it said. | As an interim measure, Ipsa should refuse to pay out mortgage interest claims unless MPs agreed to hand over any capital gains made, it said. |
| It also stresses that employing family members at public expenses is "unacceptable" - Sir Ian has said he agrees it should be banned but the consultation document invites other views. | It also stresses that employing family members at public expenses is "unacceptable" - Sir Ian has said he agrees it should be banned but the consultation document invites other views. |
| Sir Christopher's committee also says it is "disappointed" there will not be a trial scheme at the beginning of the next Parliament in which a private agency is used to find MPs' second homes to rent. | Sir Christopher's committee also says it is "disappointed" there will not be a trial scheme at the beginning of the next Parliament in which a private agency is used to find MPs' second homes to rent. |
| But the committee said proposed changes to the £10,000 a year communications allowance - limiting claims to advertising for surgery times and producing contact cards - appeared to be tougher than it had envisaged. | But the committee said proposed changes to the £10,000 a year communications allowance - limiting claims to advertising for surgery times and producing contact cards - appeared to be tougher than it had envisaged. |
| Ipsa has also proposed scrapping the resettlement grant - worth up to £65,000 per MPs - entirely for those leaving Parliament - Sir Christopher's recommendation had been to reduce it. | Ipsa has also proposed scrapping the resettlement grant - worth up to £65,000 per MPs - entirely for those leaving Parliament - Sir Christopher's recommendation had been to reduce it. |
| Last month Sir Ian said he wanted to "be fair" and air different arguments using the consultation document, and on the issue of MPs surrendering profits on second homes said: "I don't recognise the notion that we were watering down on capital gains." | Last month Sir Ian said he wanted to "be fair" and air different arguments using the consultation document, and on the issue of MPs surrendering profits on second homes said: "I don't recognise the notion that we were watering down on capital gains." |