House of Commons - The Operation of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 - Committee on Members' Expenses

Committee on Members' Expenses - First Report
The Operation of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009

Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 6 December 2011.

Contents

Terms of Reference

Part 1. Introduction

1. Why was the review established?

3. What is the purpose of the MPs' payment scheme?

Part 2. Background

4. History of payments to MPs

The expenses scandal

The establishment of IPSA

5. IPSA and the current expenses scheme

The London Area Living Payment

6. International and UK comparisons

Part 3. Aims of the 2009 Act

7. Independence and accountability

8. Value for money

9. Transparency

10. Public confidence

Intentions and background

11. MPs' ability to fulfil their duties

The parliamentary functions of MPs

Impact of IPSA's scheme on MPs

12. Fairness to MPs without independent means and those with families

MPs without independent means

MPs with families

13. Not deterring legitimate claims

Part 4. Operations

14. The claims process and advice

Cashflow problems and direct payments

The system for claiming

IPSA's handling of claims

Availability of advice

Compliance function

15. What may be claimed

Staffing expenditure

Resettlement grant

16. Impact on MPs' staff

Conclusions and Recommendations

Independence and primary purpose

Value for money for the taxpayer

Public confidence

Members' ability to fulfil their duties

Impact on Members with families

Impact on Members without independent means

Deterring MPs from submitting legitimate claims

Impact on MPs' staff

Payments for MPs' costs

The role of Parliament

Summary of recommendations

Annex 1: Survey by the Committee of MPs' views on the operation of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009

Annex 2: Statistical information on the workload of MPs

List of written evidence

Oral and Written Evidence

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Tuesday 11 October 2011

Tuesday 18 October 2011

Tuesday 25 October 2011

Tuesday 27 October 2011

Thursday 3 November 2011

Written Evidence

© Parliamentary copyright 2011
Prepared 12 December 2011