The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir George Young)
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority is currently conducting its first year review of the parliamentary expenses scheme. IPSA launched a formal process for public consultation on 5 January 2011.
Under the Parliamentary Standards Act (2009), the Leader of the House is a statutory consultee of the scheme. Today, I am publishing the evidence that I am submitting to IPSA and I have placed copies in the Library of the House, in the Vote Office for Members and on the Leader’s website: www.commonsleader.gov.uk.
Although I am responding as a statutory consultee, it has not been my intention to respond on behalf of the House. I understand that party groups and individual MPs may be sending in separate submissions.
As I have set out in my evidence, I believe there are five key principles that should guide the regime for Members’ expenses. They are:
Independence—Members should not determine their own allowances.
Transparency—Public confidence must be maintained through transparent rules and publication of expenses data.
Professionalism—Members should be properly resourced so that they can effectively represent their constituents and perform their parliamentary duties.
Fitness for Purpose—Members from all backgrounds must be able to provide an equal service to their constituents; the system should not deter candidates from less affluent backgrounds from becoming or remaining Members of Parliament, nor adversely affect family life.
Cost-effectiveness—The system should minimise the cost to the taxpayer, both by limiting the amount Members may claim to what is absolutely necessary and by offering simple, cost-effective administration.
The public consultation closes on 11 February and I would encourage all Members who wish to raise issues with IPSA to do so before the end of the consultation period, so that IPSA is able to take account of the broadest range of views from within the House.