---

Members' Salaries, Pensions and Allowances

Although I may have been called extreme at certain times, I am sure that the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) has not been called that on too many occasions. I appreciate that the Leader of the House is also an inner-London MP, representing Camberwell and Peckham. She made the statement and it has been put that somehow the London allowance is simply an issue of pay, but in our view it is a small compensatory allowance that makes a contribution—only a small contribution—towards the otherwise un-reimbursed expenditure entailed in making a main home, as opposed to a second home, in central London. That is why we feel that this matter should go to the MEC. The option of taking an ACA is not open to us 26 Members, but for those who are not entitled to an ACA or who choose not to take it in preference for a London allowance, there is comparability. We hope that the Leader of the House will take notice and ensure that recommendation 29 goes to the MEC.