MPs ordered to include family members on payroll

Date: 6th February 2008

All MPs will soon have to ensure that details of any family members in their employment are fully divulged on their payrolls, it has emerged.

In the wake of several scandals involving MPs and their highly-paid relations, the Commons committee on Standards and Privileges has ruled that politicians must include family members on their payrolls by April 1st, the Independent reports.

Conservative MP Derek Conway was recently expelled from the Commons after it emerged that he had paid his son Freddie thousands of pounds taken from public funds and other disclosures for a part-time job as a researcher.

This revelation prompted HM Revenue & Customs to begin an investigation into parliamentary expenses, with Mr Conway claiming in a newspaper interview that his actions were currently being replicated by many other MPs.

Conservative leader David Cameron welcomed the new payroll system, stating: "What you need to have is a combination of rules and transparency so people can see what we are doing with these allowances and then interrogate us about them."