MPs have revealed for the first time today exactly how much they claimed in expenses last year on top of their salary. Greg Hurst, Political Correspondent, explains why.

Why are these figures being published now?

The Freedom of Information Act, which takes effect January 1, would mean that any individual could request similar figures for any MPs anyway. The House of Commons want to be seen to do so willingly, in advance, and in a way that does not single out individual MPs

Who decides what MPs are paid?

MPs' pay is decided on the recommendation of the Senior Salaries Review Body, an independent body, which compares their work to that of comparable roles in the private and public sector. The difficulties in public perception arise because Parliament is sovereign and ultimately MPs decided their pay, pension accrual rates and allowances themselves in votes on the floor of the Commons.

There have been occasions when MPs have overruled their review body and imposed their own figures. The last example was in July 2001 when MPs did so on both their housing allowance and pension accrual rates.

This, perhaps understandably, upsets public sector workers whose pay and other remuneration are also decided by pay review bodies. There have been instances when MPs have watered down recommendations of such review bodies.

Do MPs cheat on expenses?

In my view public life in the United Kingdom is not endemically corrupt and we are fortunate in that regard. However, there are rumours of abuse of the rules by some individual MPs. For example: two or more MPs sharing a car journey from their constituencies to Westminster and each claiming mileage on the journey; buying a standard / economy class travel ticket and claiming back the cost of a business class ticket

Is there one type of MP?

MPs are answerable only to their constituents and each MP will perform his or her role differently. Senior MPs often compare their role to running a small business. This means MPs from neighbouring constituencies may claim different amounts; some may live near to a station, others a long drive away; some may rent a constituency office, others may have their sole office in the Commons and employ their staff there

Are there any moves to tighten up the expenses they are entitled to?

There have been moves to tighten procedures for claiming expenses. MPs are now expected to provide receipts for any item worth more than £250. But, as Sir Archy Kirkwood, a senior MP and member of the House of Commons Commission, admits in The Times today, there is no system for double-checking this. Effectively MPs are and always have been treated as "honourable Members" whose signature certifying their claim was proper, wholly and exclusively and necessarily for the purpose of their parliamentary duties, is taken on their word.

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