Climbdown: Sir George Young said the statement from Ipsa recognised 'legitimate concerns' from MPs
The Commons expenses watchdog has announced yet another climbdown after being hounded by angry MPs.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority announced that MPs will no longer have to provide receipts straight away to receive payment for purchases.
They will also be able to use parliamentary credit cards to pay council tax and utility bills. Currently, the cards can be used only for travel costs.
The climbdown follows news that grasping MPs had launched foul-mouthed rants at Ipsa staff.
Details of the outbursts – in which workers were reduced to tears and branded ‘******* idiots’ and ‘monkeys’ – were released under Freedom of Information laws.
Angry MPs say they have been left out of pocket since new rules came into place earlier this year, making them pay up front for essential purchases.
Yesterday the head of Ipsa unveiled the latest changes, which he described as a ‘sensible, pragmatic evolution’.
Andrew McDonald, interim chief executive, said: ‘Following the creation of Ipsa last year, we have had to work with great speed to set the rules and establish robust means to implement them.
‘It has not been easy or straightforward, but we are meeting that challenge.
‘In doing so, we have learned a great deal along the way. We want to use that experience to make the process easier for MPs and to deliver efficiency savings for the taxpayer, while maintaining the scrutiny of MPs’ expenses which was called for by the public.
‘The three steps we’ve taken to simplify the process represent a sensible, pragmatic evolution of the way we administer MPs’ expenses.’
New rules on expenses have been simplified to ease MPs' anger
Ipsa was created in the wake of last year’s claims scandal and is attempting to slash £12million off Parliament’s expenses bill.
But MPs had threatened to veto its budget or even repeal the Act of Parliament which set it up, claiming the system is too complex and time-consuming.
The latest changes, to take effect in November, will extend the use of special credit cards which currently pay for travel, to allow MPs to use them to settle their council tax and utility bills.
In addition, Ipsa will now pay MPs’ landlords directly upon receipt of their tenancy agreements and will have a period of grace before providing receipts for smaller purchases.
Leader of the House of Commons Sir George Young said: ‘I welcome Ipsa’s statement. It recognises the legitimate concerns that MPs have been expressing over the last few months and provides some constructive and commonsense solutions.
‘While it’s right that Ipsa remains a completely independent body, it’s also right that there is a dialogue between Ipsa and MPs so that, when unforeseen issues arise from the new allowances regime, they can be quickly put right.
‘I hope the proposed changes by Ipsa will allow MPs to do their jobs properly and also to rebuild further public confidence in the reformed system of parliamentary allowances, which is vital.’
The latest changes are not the first climbdown.
In May, Ipsa changed the rules to allow MPs to be paid up to £4,000 of expenses in advance. A month later, they allowed MPs to exceed the £110,000 cap on staffing costs and £13,000 cap on office rent.
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