Unallotted backbench debate (part one). Main question, as amended, agreed to.

Unallotted backbench debate (part one). Main question, as amended, agreed to.

I beg to move,"That this House approves the recommendations of the First Report from the Members' Expenses Committee on the Operation of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, HC 1484." It is a pleasure to open the debate. I do not intend to detain the House for too long, as there...

I beg to move,"That this House approves the recommendations of the First Report from the Members' Expenses Committee on the Operation of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, HC 1484." It is a pleasure to open the debate. I do not intend to detain the House for too long, as there...

I thank my hon. Friend. If I could, I would probably flush up at this moment, but luckily hon. Members would not know if I had. The objective of the review and its recommendations was to make sure that the aims of the Act, on which the majority of the...

I thank my hon. Friend. If I could, I would probably flush up at this moment, but luckily hon. Members would not know if I had. The objective of the review and its recommendations was to make sure that the aims of the Act, on which the majority of the...

Is not part of the problem, and part of the frustration that Members of the House feel with IPSA, the fact that we do not get responses from it? I have written to Sir Ian Kennedy on a number of occasions but have yet to receive a reply signed by...

Is not part of the problem, and part of the frustration that Members of the House feel with IPSA, the fact that we do not get responses from it? I have written to Sir Ian Kennedy on a number of occasions but have yet to receive a reply signed by...

I have a fairly straightforward question. Does the hon. Gentleman expect Sir Ian Kennedy and IPSA to respond publicly to the Committee's recommendations?

I have a fairly straightforward question. Does the hon. Gentleman expect Sir Ian Kennedy and IPSA to respond publicly to the Committee's recommendations?

I chair the liaison committee with IPSA, which includes Members from all parties, and know that it can be a deeply frustrating experience. We do our best, but one of the problems we have had is trying to convince IPSA that its primary motivation must be to allow MPs to...

I chair the liaison committee with IPSA, which includes Members from all parties, and know that it can be a deeply frustrating experience. We do our best, but one of the problems we have had is trying to convince IPSA that its primary motivation must be to allow MPs to...

The right hon. Member for Oxford East (Mr Smith) can be reassured because the House cannot order IPSA to do anything, except by an Act of Parliament. We could pass any motion we liked to express an opinion, but that could not force IPSA to do anything. The right hon....

The right hon. Member for Oxford East (Mr Smith) can be reassured because the House cannot order IPSA to do anything, except by an Act of Parliament. We could pass any motion we liked to express an opinion, but that could not force IPSA to do anything. The right hon....

That is one of the key issues that we looked at. If Members go through the recommendations—I will run through a few of them in a moment—they will find that their primary motivation is to find ways of reducing the costs of bureaucracy for the taxpayer and to achieve better...

That is one of the key issues that we looked at. If Members go through the recommendations—I will run through a few of them in a moment—they will find that their primary motivation is to find ways of reducing the costs of bureaucracy for the taxpayer and to achieve better...

As a member of the Committee, I would like to put on the record my thanks to my hon. Friend for his patience in trying to reconcile the views of the Committee. On the point he is making, in addition to the separation of IPSA's regulatory and administrative functions, was...

As a member of the Committee, I would like to put on the record my thanks to my hon. Friend for his patience in trying to reconcile the views of the Committee. On the point he is making, in addition to the separation of IPSA's regulatory and administrative functions, was...

No, IPSA has not considered the report. IPSA has said that it will consider the Committee's recommendations, as it considers the annual review of the scheme. As I have said, the Government have had to consider the report because the House is being invited today to decide whether to approve...

No, IPSA has not considered the report. IPSA has said that it will consider the Committee's recommendations, as it considers the annual review of the scheme. As I have said, the Government have had to consider the report because the House is being invited today to decide whether to approve...

indicated assent.

indicated assent.

I see the right hon. Gentleman nodding to that. Or it is a substantial change that would alter significantly the way in which IPSA functions. If it is a modest change, it is unnecessary and would have no practical implication. Hon. Members will be aware that one amendment made to...

I see the right hon. Gentleman nodding to that. Or it is a substantial change that would alter significantly the way in which IPSA functions. If it is a modest change, it is unnecessary and would have no practical implication. Hon. Members will be aware that one amendment made to...

Does the Minister accept the point that is articulated in paragraphs 8 to 13 of the report? There is ambiguity, which was reflected in Sir Ian Kennedy's response in trying to define the primary principles that should guide IPSA. That lack of clarity is not helpful. There is a need...

Does the Minister accept the point that is articulated in paragraphs 8 to 13 of the report? There is ambiguity, which was reflected in Sir Ian Kennedy's response in trying to define the primary principles that should guide IPSA. That lack of clarity is not helpful. There is a need...

I am sorry to disappoint the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell). The point is that this is not a recommendation of this report. It is merely an observation that members of the Committee have made. If the Minister goes through the 200 or 300 pages of the report, he...

I am sorry to disappoint the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell). The point is that this is not a recommendation of this report. It is merely an observation that members of the Committee have made. If the Minister goes through the 200 or 300 pages of the report, he...

I will take one more intervention on this before moving on. I will therefore take it from the Chairman of the Committee.

I will take one more intervention on this before moving on. I will therefore take it from the Chairman of the Committee.

Is the Minister saying that IPSA has already responded to the report?

Is the Minister saying that IPSA has already responded to the report?

It is one of the conclusions of the report. I will now move on to the three recommendations. Most of the recommendations in the report are for IPSA to consider. As Members on both sides of the House have said, many of the recommendations are very sensible and I hope...

It is one of the conclusions of the report. I will now move on to the three recommendations. Most of the recommendations in the report are for IPSA to consider. As Members on both sides of the House have said, many of the recommendations are very sensible and I hope...

I understood the Minister to say that the Government had not had time to consider this report, yet IPSA has had time to consider it.

I understood the Minister to say that the Government had not had time to consider this report, yet IPSA has had time to consider it.

Yes, IPSA put out a press notice, which is on its website for everyone to see. It has confirmed—[Interruption.] Will the hon. Gentleman let me answer his first intervention? IPSA has confirmed publicly that it will look at this report and consider the recommendations of the Committee. Indeed, it has...

Yes, IPSA put out a press notice, which is on its website for everyone to see. It has confirmed—[Interruption.] Will the hon. Gentleman let me answer his first intervention? IPSA has confirmed publicly that it will look at this report and consider the recommendations of the Committee. Indeed, it has...

My hon. Friend has thanked various people. Will he accept my thanks and those of many colleagues for all the work he has put into this report? This is an extremely controversial matter and he has shown great leadership and sacrifice in doing all he has done.

My hon. Friend has thanked various people. Will he accept my thanks and those of many colleagues for all the work he has put into this report? This is an extremely controversial matter and he has shown great leadership and sacrifice in doing all he has done.