MPs' Expenses and Allowances - Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the Committee?

The Committee is made up of 10 people. The Chair and 6 other Committee members are independent people, chosen on merit after an open competition. These individuals come from both public and private sector backgrounds.

In addition, there are three political members put forward by the leaders of the Labour Party, Conservative Party and Liberal Democrat Party. However, these political nominees have voluntarily withdrawn from taking part in this inquiry (as required by the Committee's Code of Conduct) to avoid any possible appearance of Impropriety.

Biographies of Individual members can be found here.

Why is the Committee undertaking this inquiry?

MPs are currently able to spend and/or claim back money spent on items such as support staff; constituency offices; additional accommodation if they are required to work away from home; and travel. In recent months there has been a lot of criticism of the way in which MPs have used these allowances. The aim of our inquiry is to reform the system of MPs' expenses to create a new set of rules which are trusted by the public, and which give MPs the support they need to do their jobs.

What will the inquiry cover?

The Committee is taking a completely fresh look at the different resources and costs that MPs may incur in order to do their jobs. This includes accommodation, staffing, travel, and communications. The Committee is also looking at the way in which the rules on expenses should be enforced, and who should be responsible for setting appropriate levels for MPs expenses in the future.

Is the inquiry UK-wide?

Yes. MPs from every region of the UK are elected to represent their constituents in Westminster.

The Prime Minister has particularly asked the Committee to consider the impact of any changes to the current arrangements on MPs representing constituencies in Northern Ireland.

How can I make my views known?

We are keen to hear views from everyone who wishes to contribute to our inquiry. The Committee recently published and Issues and Questions Paper, (pdf 227Kb) which contains information on how to respond to our inquiry. Further information can also be found by clicking here, including details of how to request a paper copy of our Issues and Questions Paper.

When will the Committee Report?

The Committee aims to report as soon as it can and no later than the end of the year. While we recognise that this is an important issue and it is necessary to act quickly, the Committee believes that it is key to hear all the arguments and make recommendations based on the evidence we receive. Only by doing this will we be able to put forward a credible and workable set of proposals for reform which sort out the issue once and for all.

What happens after the Committee reports?

The Committee will submit its report to the Prime Minister and any changes would be subject to the approval of Parliament. The Committee has no power to force through its recommendations, but the Chair has urged political leaders to commit to implementing the Committee's recommendations in full.