MPs criticise plans to curb expenses

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has consulted on reforms that include scrapping the evening meal allowance and banning the use of taxis before 11pm as it tries to put the system that applies to MPs on a footing with other professions.

MPs on the Standards Committee, however, have raised a raft of concerns about the plans claiming they are being stripped of the right to put in for expenses that most companies would pay out for.

In a report, they highlighted proposals that would end the £15 that is claimable for dinner when the House sits beyond 7.30pm. The committee said it had “no wish to return to the system in which Members were allowed to make blanket claims” but said payments for food are commonly given to workers on business away from home.

“If such expenses are not met by the employer, then the employee is able to claim tax relief on subsistence costs of travel between work places,” the report said. “The rules for MPs are already considerably less generous than this.

“We also note that when there is whipped business, Members must be within easy reach of the division lobbies. Once again, we consider there needs to be a stronger evidence base before it can be asserted that these are costs which other professionals would expect to meet for themselves, unless they had been dealt with through a salary supplement rather than expenses.”

It comes amid reports that Ipsa’s plans to give MPs an 11 per cent pay rise will be signed off within weeks, despite all three main
party leaders condemning the idea of a hike at a time when the rest of the country is suffering austerity.

The organisation said the £4.6m extra salary costs would be offset by restrictions to pensions, ‘’golden goodbyes’’, and expenses - meaning the overall burden on the taxpayer would only go up by £500,000 when the deal took effect after the 2015 general election.

Among the changes planned to allowances are a halt to claims for tea and biscuits and ban on using taxis to get home before 11pm.

Hotels would only be allowable if they are booked after 1am and there would also be a crackdown on claims for running two homes.