In recent days the reputation of Parliament has been damaged by revelations about expenses claimed by MPs. To those of us who value the Union, our Parliament is of immense significance, and the DUP is determined to address this crisis of confidence in Parliament and politics.

The expense claims of Democratic Unionist Party MPs are of an entirely different nature to some of the indefensible behaviour by Members of the main parties in Great Britain, which clearly is in contravention of the rules. However we fully realise that changes are required to engender public confidence.

Whatever inconvenience may ensue for Members of Parliament and their parties, it is essential that the reputation of Parliament and politics in general is restored.

We will be making a submission to the Committee on Standards in Public Life’s Review of MPs’ Expenses. We believe we have developed proposals capable of commanding broad cross-party support at Westminster and restoring public confidence in Parliament. We will decide after the Committee reports and Parliament makes its decisions, whether as a Party, we need to go further.

• We propose the abolition of the MPs’ expenses system.
• We wish to ensure that no MP receives a single penny beyond the salary they are entitled to.
• MPs will not make claims for food, furnishings or household goods.
• We propose that a Central Procurement Division should be established at Westminster.
• Costs arising from MPs’ constituency offices and equipment, staff, utility bills and rent or mortgage payments would be paid directly by the House of Commons, with no role for the elected member. Matters such as stationery and IT equipment are already dealt with in this manner.
• We believe the Members’ Communication Allowance should also be dealt with centrally by the House of Commons, through the provision of one constituency leaflet per Member each year.
• A record of all costs incurred will be retained and should be published periodically by the House of Commons, as is the case in the Scottish Parliament. If this fails to occur, the DUP will ensure that the figures relating to our Members will be made publicly available.
• We propose there should be independent oversight of the Westminster Fees Office, operated at arms length from House of Commons control.
• We support the recommendation from the Committee on Members’ Allowances that all past receipt claims of MPs should be carefully examined, and our Members will accept and abide by their conclusions.
• DUP MPs have not and will not claim the additional £25 payment for each night Members spend away from home.
• We recommend that Members should obtain no pecuniary benefit from the taxpayer contribution for mortgage interest payments following the resale of a property.
• Salaries of MPs should be set independently with no role for elected Members or Parliament.
• MPs must declare annually any income acquired from other employment.
• We fully support all the staff of MPs being direct employees of the House of Commons.
• The DUP has been determined to end the practice of holding multiple mandates in a manner which does not jeopardise the new political institutions at Stormont. The DUP is phasing this out beginning with the next Westminster/Assembly elections for completion by the following Westminster/ Assembly elections.