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| Expenses authority to cost £6.5m | Expenses authority to cost £6.5m |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Parliamentary body set up to police expenses will cost about six times the amount MPs have been ordered to repay, the BBC has learned. | |
| Figures show the annual cost of running the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority will be £6.5m. | Figures show the annual cost of running the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority will be £6.5m. |
| Last week, MPs were told to pay back £1.12m of their second home expenses after an audit of their claims dating back to 2004 by Sir Thomas Legg. | Last week, MPs were told to pay back £1.12m of their second home expenses after an audit of their claims dating back to 2004 by Sir Thomas Legg. |
| Meanwhile, three MPs and a Tory peer are facing charges over their expenses. | Meanwhile, three MPs and a Tory peer are facing charges over their expenses. |
| The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has replaced the Commons Fees Office, and most of its £6.5m budget is expected to go on recruiting about 80 staff. Its chairman Sir Ian Kennedy will be paid a salary of £100,000. | The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has replaced the Commons Fees Office, and most of its £6.5m budget is expected to go on recruiting about 80 staff. Its chairman Sir Ian Kennedy will be paid a salary of £100,000. |
| The BBC's political correspondent Norman Smith said this will come on top of the £1.1m cost of Sir Thomas Legg's audit and the inquiry by the standards watchdog Sir Christopher Kelly which cost £400,000. | The BBC's political correspondent Norman Smith said this will come on top of the £1.1m cost of Sir Thomas Legg's audit and the inquiry by the standards watchdog Sir Christopher Kelly which cost £400,000. |
| "That inquiry is now being re-examined by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority prior to implementing a new expenses regime," he added. | "That inquiry is now being re-examined by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority prior to implementing a new expenses regime," he added. |
| Appeals process | Appeals process |
| Last Thursday, Sir Thomas Legg announced that MPs should repay £1.12m of their second home expenses | Last Thursday, Sir Thomas Legg announced that MPs should repay £1.12m of their second home expenses |
| He had recommended that 389 MPs should repay £1.3m but that was cut after an appeals process. | He had recommended that 389 MPs should repay £1.3m but that was cut after an appeals process. |
| Many MPs complained that Sir Thomas had retrospectively applied limits to claims for gardening and cleaning that were not in place at the time. | Many MPs complained that Sir Thomas had retrospectively applied limits to claims for gardening and cleaning that were not in place at the time. |
| As a result of the appeals, the number of MPs ordered to repay money was reduced from 389 to 372 and £180,000 was cut off the total. | As a result of the appeals, the number of MPs ordered to repay money was reduced from 389 to 372 and £180,000 was cut off the total. |
| The report said £800,000 had been repaid already - some unconnected to Sir Thomas's demands - since April 2009, the month before the scandal broke. | The report said £800,000 had been repaid already - some unconnected to Sir Thomas's demands - since April 2009, the month before the scandal broke. |
| There have been several inquiries related to MPs' expenses. | There have been several inquiries related to MPs' expenses. |
| The independent committee on standards in public life - chaired by Sir Christopher Kelly - set out recommendations on how the system should change in the future. | The independent committee on standards in public life - chaired by Sir Christopher Kelly - set out recommendations on how the system should change in the future. |
| The raft of proposals included banning MPs for claiming towards mortgage payments on second homes and from employing relatives. | The raft of proposals included banning MPs for claiming towards mortgage payments on second homes and from employing relatives. |
| Sir Ian Kennedy, the IPSA chairman, has said he hopes to get a new system in place by the start of the next Parliament. | Sir Ian Kennedy, the IPSA chairman, has said he hopes to get a new system in place by the start of the next Parliament. |
| The three Labour MPs facing criminal charges in relation to their expenses are Elliot Morley, Jim Devine and David Chaytor. | The three Labour MPs facing criminal charges in relation to their expenses are Elliot Morley, Jim Devine and David Chaytor. |
| Tory Peer Lord Hanningfield will also be charged under the Theft Act. All four have said they denied any charges | Tory Peer Lord Hanningfield will also be charged under the Theft Act. All four have said they denied any charges |