Downing Street Says

» Thursday, May 12, 2011

Expenses

Asked if the Prime Minister welcomed the review into expenses, the PMS replied that the position had been set out by Mark Harper. The Prime Minister’s view was that it was right that we had an independent body in charge of the expenses system, but he like many of his colleagues, thought that there were some problems with the way the system was being administered and that it needed to improve.

The PMS said that IPSA had already done quite a lot to address that and this committee would provide an opportunity for MPs to look at the system again and see if there were further improvements to be made. The PMS added that ultimately that judgement would be a matter for IPSA.

Put that the Prime Minister had said that IPSA had to change or they would be changed, the PMS replied that since then IPSA had made significant changes. The PMS said that the Prime Minister thought there was still more that could be done and that further improvements could be made. This committee would provide a way of allowing MPs to air their views.

Asked if the Prime Minister thought that David Laws had been fairly dealt with, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister had spoken about this earlier today and had said that we should take some time to study the report.

Asked if it was appropriate for this report to take over a year to complete, the PMS replied that the Government would not be commenting on the House and it’s procedures.

Asked if the Prime Minister thought it necessary to look at some of the inconsistencies in punishment given out to MPs over expenses, the PMS replied that if people were going to jail then presumably they had committed a criminal offence and had been prosecuted for that. Those kinds of cases were clearly a matter for the police.

The PMS added that the Prime Minister felt that it was important to get the system right for the future and that was why it was important that IPSA was working effectively.

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» Thursday, May 12, 2011

Expenses

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