Expenses explained: the rules

Claims must only be made for incurred expenditure that is necessary for an MP to perform his or her parliamentary duties.

Allowances are reimbursed only for the purpose of a member carrying out his or her parliamentary duties.

Claims cannot relate to party political activity of any sort, nor must any claim provide a benefit to a party political organisation.

An MP cannot claim a parliamentary allowance for anything that is being claimed from any other source.

MPs must ensure claims do not give rise to, or give the appearance of giving rise to, an improper personal financial benefit to themselves or anyone else.

MPs are committed to openness about what expenditure has been incurred and for what purposes.

Individual MPs must take personal responsibility for all expenses incurred, for making claims and for keeping records, even if the administration of claims is delegated by them to others.

MPs should avoid purchases which could be seen as extravagant or luxurious.

Claims must be supported by documentary evidence, except where the House has agreed that such evidence is not necessary. There will always be areas of uncertainty and the need to exercise individual judgment. MPs must ask whether the expense is genuinely incurred in their parliamentary role and if it supports them in carrying out their duties. MPs might consider how comfortable they would feel with it being made available to the public under Freedom of Information.