By Philippa Silverman - 8th July 2011
MPs are set to review the laws governing their expenses regime by the end of the year, under plans approved by the Commons.
The Commons Members' Expenses Committee will investigate the concerns and complaints expressed by MPs over the operation of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa).
Plans were also approved, without a vote, to rename the committee from its original House of Commons Committee on Members' Allowances title.
MPs also approved a motion instructing the committee to report to the House of a review of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, under which Ipsa was created, by the end of the year.
Deputy Commons leader David Heath said: "The government is keen that the committee is set up without any more unnecessary delay and gets on with the important work the House has tasked it with."
The Lib Dem minister said the title change would not restrict the ability of the committee to discuss the issue of allowances.
He told MPs: "The change merely brings the committee's title up to date, reflecting the new system."
Adam Afriyie (Con, Windsor) argued that proposed changes would limit the remit of the committee.
"If the deputy leader of the House can confirm that the change will in no way narrow the committee's ability to do its work of reviewing the Act and producing recommendations, there will be very little to detain us," he said.
Heath assured him that the government has "no intention of seeking to restrict the committee’s remit in the way that is feared".
Shadow Commons deputy leader Helen Jones said the establishment of the committee as soon as possible was needed as "the scheme clearly needs amendment".
She added: "It is imperative that we get to a sensible position which both maintains confidence in the scheme and does not use up too much time of honourable members, who are, I think, fast becoming the highest paid data-inputting clerks in the country."
In a report published on Thursday, the National Audit Officefound Ipsa is safeguarding public money but must to more to streamline its procedures and to cut costs.
However, its survey of MPs found more than 85 per cent believe the current expenses system is a "great burden" and hinders them from doing their job properly.
Highlighting the report in the chamber, Richard Bacon (Con, South Norfolk) said: "Given what had taken place, the MPs’ expenses crisis and the response that came forth with the new legislation, Ipsa has done its best."
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