This year's, the fourth, review of the MPs' Business costs & expenses scheme is much about refining rules rather than making substantive changes. It pays special attention to MPs' needs for staff. It gives MPs a clear budget limit for staff, but one that allows flexibility so as to reflect the differences in their ways of work. This Review also explored the separation between parliamentary functions and party political activities

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) published a consultation, 'MPs' pay and pensions: a new package', in July 2013. Although it is not a statutory duty of the Committee to comment on proposals on relating to pay and pensions, it is in within their remit to comment on proposed changes to the expenses scheme. This report responds to question 9 of the consultation which relates to 'completing the modernisation of expenses' and comments on the proposal for an Annual report from Members.

Third edition dated May 2011. This document replaces the version of the 3rd edition published in April (HC 890, ISBN 9780102971293) and is being issued free of charge to all known recipients of that earlier version

This study examines the evolution and political consequences of the 2009 British MPs' expenses scandal. Despite claims of a revolution in British politics, we show how the expenses scandal had a limited, short-term impact.

This report emphasises the importance of independent regulation of the system for reimbursing MPs' costs; of the continuing need for transparency and the need for value for money. The Committee concludes that the aims set out for the new system in 2009 were the right ones but have not been sufficiently achieved. In particular, the cost to the taxpayer is too high and the time spent dealing with the system hinders MPs in performing their parliamentary duties, to the detriment of constituents and the country. Proposals made include: separating the administrative and regulatory roles of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA); improving the transparency of IPSA's publication of claims; a cost-benefit analysis of how the accommodation and travel part of the system could be simplified

Under the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, IPSA became responsible for creating a new system to pay MPs expenses and is now responsible for running and regulating that system. IPSA's operating costs in 2010-11 were £6.4 million, its staff is now reduced from 88 to around 60. Between May 2010 and March 2011, IPSA processed 134, 696 separate claim lines, paying out some £118 million. This report examines the value for money that IPSA has achieved. It concludes that whilst the new scheme is clearly preventing misuse of money, IPSA did not initially have sufficient regard to the impact its scheme was having on the ability of MPs to fulfil their duties. IPSA needs to accelerate streamlining of its own procedures and give greater priority to minimising costs necessarily falling to MPs