THE GENERAL Election has seen the biggest influx of new MPs for decades, with some expected at the House of Commons yesterday.
About half the chamber will be replaced by rookie parliamentarians, after a record 149 MPs stood down – many because of the expenses scandal.
The new MPs will first visit a new reception area to get their photo-identity pass, plus a laptop, e-mail account and telephone extension number.
They will initially be allocated “hot desking office space” until their permanent offices are ready. Offices are allocated by the party whips and Commons staff have warned that this could take some time.
The new MPs will be briefed next week on the traditions and procedure of the Commons chamber by some of the “most experienced MPs and senior staff”.
For the next eight days, there will be a dedicated service for outgoing MPs to help them conclude affairs at Westminster.
The new rules governing MPs’ expenses now apply. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) is now solely responsible for assessing and determining all claims. Ipsa also has responsibility for the payment of salaries to MPs and their staff.
MPs will be able to submit their expense claims through a new online system, on which they can receive training for the next two weeks. They will also have access to a Commons hotline for advice on using the system.
All MPs’ expenses claims and payments are set to be made public on the Ipsa website in July.
The authority is also allowing MPs to claim loans or advances to help with payment of “essential expenditure” such as deposits or rent for their home or office.
The rules are based on the reimbursement of “tightly controlled expenses” rather than flat-rate allowances.
They mark an end to the controversial second homes allowance. MPs can now only claim for rented accommodation. But there will be a two-year transitional period for returning MPs who claim mortgage interest expenses.
“The new expenses rules represent a clean break from what went before,” Ipsa chairman Ian Kennedy said.
“They are fair, workable and transparent, and signal a new culture of independent regulation holding MPs to account.
“I believe that, over time the rules will help to restore public trust in the way expenses are claimed and paid to MPs.” – (PA)