MP expenses 'would rise if they knew limit'

Parliamentary expenses are so open to abuse that MPs would inevitably increase their claims if they knew the maximum they were entitled to, the Commons finance chief admitted yesterday.

At a tribunal to decide whether MPs should be more open about their expenses, Andrew Walker, the director of resources at the House of Commons, said he had a "secret" list of maximum allowances which authorities would accept for household items.

But in an astonishing admission, he refused to reveal details of individual items because he feared MPs would take advantage and bump up their claims accordingly.

Mr Walker's words will add to the growing disquiet around the largely self-policed system of perks and allowances enjoyed by MPs triggered by the case of Derek Conway, the backbencher who lost the Conservative whip in the Commons and agreed to step down as an MP after a parliamentary inquiry found he had overpaid his son for work as a parliamentary researcher.

A London tribunal will rule on a Freedom of Information case submitted by campaigners and journalists who are demanding to know more about the Commons expenses regime, including details of the £23,000 allowances which can be claimed on second homes.

MPs submitted an average claim of £136,000 each last year and, Mr Walker admitted, the system was largely "self-certified", with few checks by the authorities.

The finance chief told the tribunal he had a list of precedents for amounts spent on household items - but refused to say what they were.

He said: "My concern would be that if we say what the maximum price we will allow for such an item is, it will become the going rate."

Earlier in the week, the tribunal heard that MPs were entitled to claim £400 in grocery bills each month, but were not required to include receipts on any item under £250.

Michael Martin, the Commons Speaker, has announced a "root-and-branch'' inquiry into all aspects of Parliamentary expenses, but the appointment to the review of a number of long-standing MPs known to be opposed to reform has angered many. It is not expected to report back until MPs return from the summer recess in October.

On the GMTV Sunday programme tomorrow, the Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker will accuse the inquiry of being an "establishment fix."

He will add: "The public won't have confidence in people with that particular mindset dealing with this issue. This is an issue of public probity and proper information and the right to know."

Sir George Young, chairman of the standards committee which investigated the Conway case, has admitted complaints against MPs have soared since the scandal became public.