Forensic accountancy techniques could be put to good use in assessing the validity of MPs' expenses, says Rakesh Kapila
There has been extensive media coverage this year on the expenses of MPs and MEPs, largely in relation to expenditure on second homes and travel and payments to family members and connected companies.
Although much media coverage relates to the overall level of expenses, eg by reference to the aggregate amount spent in renovating a kitchen or the total amount paid over several years to a family company, there has been less scrutiny of the validity of expense claims, primarily by considering whether expenditure has in fact been incurred for services “properly rendered” or goods provided to the MP concerned.
MPS' Allowable Expenses
Allowances
Before an appraisal of how MPs' expenses may be subject to detailed scrutiny, it is important to obtain an overview of the primary heads of expenditure claimed by them. Information available on Parliament's website in relation to “House of Commons: Members' Allowance Expenditure” includes the following details:
(i) the additional
