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- 02 Feb 2012 Committee publishes submission on Government draft Bill on the recall of MPs
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- 08 Nov 2011 Political Party Finance report
- 11 Feb 2011 CSPL Publishes Response to IPSA Review of MPs' Expenses Scheme
- 31 Jan 2011 CSPL Submits evidence to the Public Bills Committee on the Localism Bill
- 14 Dec 2010 Sir Christopher Kelly Comments on the Decentalisation and Localism Bill
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Principles for MP allowances
10/04/2008
This note sets out the principles which the Committee on Standards in Public Life believes should be followed in the review of MPs allowances currently being conducted by the Members Estimate Committee. It has been produced following a discussion between the Chairman of the Committee and the Speaker, and a separate discussion with the Members Estimate Committee.
It starts from the premise that it is in Members own interest, as well as that of the public, that the arrangements for their remuneration and reimbursement of expenses should meet the highest standards of transparency, probity and accountability. It is clear from recent events and the reaction to them that the current arrangements fail to meet those standards in a number of respects. Our understanding is that a large number of MPs share that view.
We therefore welcome the decision to review the current arrangements and the steps that have already been taken, or set in train, towards greater transparency and accountability.
In the meantime, and in the absence of hearing the evidence which we would expect to take should we mount our own review, we have not felt it right to express firm views at this stage on the detail of the allowance structure. But we are clear about the principles which we would expect reforms to follow if confidence in the system and in the probity of Members of Parliament is to be restored.
Read the full press release here.
