Andrew Turner has given his response to the report on MPs’ Expenses by Sir Christopher Kelly and the Committee on Standards in Public Life. Mr Turner welcomed the report which, he says, contains many sensible proposals. He hopes that the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) will implement the recommendations in full as part of the process of restoring trust in politics, despite the fact that some of them may present difficulties for individual MPs.
The 140-page report makes 60 individual recommendations. Many of them, such as providing documentary evidence of all expenditure and moving responsibility for setting MPs’ pay and pensions from MPs themselves to an independent regulator, Mr Turner described as “self-evidently sensible”. Other proposals such as ending the employment of family members and phasing out mortgage interest payments (for which there are transitional arrangements which can last up to five years), will bring about fundamental changes to the way MPs work and organise their family lives. After the five years have elapsed, only claims relating to rented property (under a scheme similar to that currently used by the Ministry of Defence for service personnel) will be allowed, and family members will be made compulsorily redundant.
Mr Turner said,
“I welcome the report and many of the recommendations are self-evidently sensible and necessary. I have always voluntarily provided evidence for all expenditure – that is normal practice elsewhere. The old system allowed claims of £250 for petty cash, £400 for food, and more recently £25 per night subsistence allowance without receipts. I have not claimed for these things because I did not think they could be justified and I believe that claims under any expenses system should be supported by evidence that the money has actually been spent. I also think it is wrong that MPs should decide their own levels of pay and pensions and have voted to change this in the past.
“I am also pleased that Sir Christopher has recommended that the rules for the designation of second homes should be clear, unambiguous and properly policed. It simply never occurred to me that the system allowed MPs to ‘flip’ homes for personal gain, which clearly happened in some cases. Although it is reasonable to allow people up to five years to make big changes to their living arrangements, for my own part I do not intend to take advantage of the transitional period which would allow me to claim mortgage interest for up to five years. As soon as the new system for providing rented accommodation is up and running, I shall seek to transfer to it.
“I have always been perfectly candid about employing my partner Carole in my office. Sir Christopher’s report accepts that the ‘vast majority of employed family members provide an excellent service’, but recommends that after the transitional period of five years the employment of family members should end. Carole has carried out a first class job, as many Islanders who have come to me with individual problems know. I regret that this will end, but accept that it is necessary to completely reform the system in order to begin restoring the confidence of the public in our parliamentary democracy.
“This change will fundamentally affect the way I organise my office, as Carole works for me both in London and on the Island on a completely flexible basis, for that she is paid £19,000 pa. I am sure people will understand that I am unlikely to be able to find a skilled replacement who would be willing to work on the same basis for a similar salary.
“Although I am provided with an office in Westminster my main office base is in Newport and I currently have no paid employees based in London. That is likely to remain the case until after the next election; however once the new system is in place I shall of course comply with all the rules within the required timescale.”
END Contact : Andrew Turner’s office 01983 530808
