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Communications Allowance

Not at this early stage. I have plenty to say, and I shall yield the Floor to Opposition Members once I have developed my argument a little further. The communications allowance was ushered in by the Puttnam Commission on the Communication of Parliamentary Democracy in 2005, introduced as recently as April 2007 and endorsed by the Senior Salaries Review Body less than a year ago. It has been used by about 600 Members of Parliament, including the majority of Conservative Members. Yet the communications allowance has cursorily been brushed aside—indeed, there will now be less funding for communications than existed prior to the introduction of the allowance. That is extraordinary. It is clear to me that communications expenditure has become a victim of the backlash following the expenses scandals. In no way could that element be the object of personal financial gain, yet we Members of Parliament have allowed this to happen almost without process and, as far as I can see, almost without debate. Well, I protest, and this is the debate. IPSA has apparently carried out a consultation on expenses, including communications expenses. I trust that today's debate will form part of its consideration.