By Ned Simons - 12th May 2011
MPs have backed proposals to set up a committee to investigate the effectiveness of the unpopular parliamentary expenses regime.
The committee will examine the 2009 Parliamentary Standards Act that led to the creation of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa).
Ipsa is deeply unpopular with MPs and their staff who claim it is unnecessarily bureaucratic and hampers their ability to do their job properly.
A Commons debate this afternoon was led by Tory MP Adam Afriyie who has become something of the MPs MP on the issue, persistently taking up their grievances and repeatedly lobbying the backbench business committee to grant debates.
The millionaire is more able than some to speak out on the issue as he claims no expenses and is likely to become the chair of a revived Members' Allowances Committee.
He said that the overwhelming majority of MPs were "desperate to get on with their job" but were being prevented from doing so by the complicated rules imposed by Ipsa.
"This issue of expenses is incendiary but it is our duty to act without fear or favour in the interests of democracy, our constituents and the taxpayer," he said.
He added: "I think we do need to have a calm look at the impact that is having on our democracy and Members' ability to represent their constituents."
Afriyie told the Commons he would be "very happy to play a part in any committee which is established ".
To illustrate how complicated the process of submitting claims was soldier-turned politician Colonel Bob Stewart said he found warzones easier to navigate.
"I understood the intricacies of Balkans politics when I was British commander much better than I understand the intricacies of getting a claim from Ipsa," he said.
Stewart also revealed he often broke Commons rules by sleeping in his office on a army camp bed after late night sittings rather than claiming expenses for a stay in a central London hotel.
Cabinet Office minister Mark Harper said the government would look very carefully at any report the committee produced but warned against the Commons undermining the independence of Ipsa by "micro-managing the details of the scheme".
The government is wary of being seen to endorse any loosening of the rules governing expenses.
Appearing before a Commons committee yesterday Ipsa officials defended the running costs of his organisation. They told MPs that the duty to keep costs down had to be balanced against the duty to maintain public trust in the system and protect MPs reputations.
Today's debate followed an apology on the floor of the Commons from Lib Dem David Laws who faces a seven day suspension for breaching expenses rules.
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