Expenses claimed without receipts by MPs to be cut to £25

Stricter rules for MPs expenses are being introduced

Tuesday, 11, Mar 2008 12:00

The amount of expenses claimed by MPs without invoices or receipts is to be cut from £250 to £25 from the beginning of the next financial year.

The Commons' members estimates committee announced today that from April 1st MPs would be required to provide the receipts, in a move aimed at providing a "more robust regime for audit".

The amount of petty cash that MPs can draw for office expenses is also to be reduced from £250 to £50 a month.

Instead, a petty cash book should be used to record what items the money is spent on to allow better auditing, the committee said.

The interim report said the new controls were made to improve public confidence.

"The committee is determined to establish audit controls which command public confidence," it said.

Food, for the time being, will not be covered in the new rules for MPs. Currently they are able to claim up to £400 a month without providing receipts for money spent on food while away from their homes.

It was also decided not to make MPs submit paperwork for all claims made.

"Members working both in the constituency and at the house and travelling between the two do incur small costs which are normally paid in cash and for which receipts are not give," the committee said.

The committee, chaired by speaker Michael Martin, is currently involved in a review of all MP expenses which will be published later this year.