‘Unsupported’ expenses lead auditors to refuse signing off Commons books
By politics.co.uk staff
The House of Commons accounts will not be signed off by the National Audit Office, after £2.6 million of unsupported expenses claims emerged.
Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, has “limited the scope of his audit opinion” in response to parliamentary authorities being unable to show any evidence for the offending claims – the majority of which were made after the expenses scandal broke.
In previous audits, the NAO has not been able to take a more detailed look at claims “beyond an MP’s signature” to investigate irregularities.
With the Commons having increased the auditors’ remit last year, a host of discrepancies has emerged.
Of the £2.6 million of unsupported claims, £800,000 could not be backed up despite “a major exercise to obtain evidence retrospectively. The remainder cannot be audited due to being investigated by police.
More embarrassing for the new system of expenses is the revelation that £11.3 million had insufficient evidence for the NAO to conclude there were necessary for MPs’ parliamentary duties.
The report added: “This is despite the evidence having been obtained in accordance with the rules governing the MPs’ expenses scheme.”
The Taxpayers’ Alliance reacted unfavourably to the news. Its director Matthew Sinclair said the system had “got out of control”.
He added: “Too many politicians are still so out of touch they think of themselves as the victims in the MPs’ expenses scandal but in reality it was ordinary families who were ripped off.
“Taxpayers’ money has clearly been abused on a huge scale as millions of pounds paid in expenses went to MPs who have swindled the public, and millions more wasn’t properly justified. This scandal continues to blight the reputation of Parliament and justice has to be done, those responsible should be punished severely.”
MPs pay and allowances are now handled by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) – a target of huge discontent among MPs for its alleged failings.
The audit also revealed total operating costs for the House of Commons of £166.9 million last year.
