North MPs spent thousands on gadgets

Jun 24 2009 by William Green, The Journal

Jail threat

MPs who fiddle their expenses could face up to a year in prison under Government proposals published last night and aimed at cleaning up the system of parliamentary allowances.

The Parliamentary Standards Bill will establish a new independent body to administer MPs’ pay and allowances with a Commissioner for Parliamentary Investigations to probe alleged breaches of the rules.

It will also create a series of new criminal offences including knowingly providing false or misleading information in a claim for an allowance. That would incur a maximum penalty of 12 months in jail or unlimited fine.

MPs who fail to register properly their outside interests will face a fine of up to £5,000.

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