MPs 'paid back expenses in secret'

Dozens of MPs were allowed to admit expenses errors and repay money in secret, it has been claimed. Parliamentary standards commissioner John Lyon struck deals with individuals to fast-track their cases, according to the Daily Telegraph. The arrangement is permitted using a "rectification procedure" that was introduced under former Commons Speaker Michael Martin in 2005. MPs who are willing to admit they have broken parliamentary rules can be given the option of returning cash and apologising to the Standards and Privileges Committee, which oversees conduct issues. The newspaper reported that use of the procedure increased sharply since Mr Lyon took up his post in January 2008. He allegedly allowed 16 cases to be dealt with in this way last year, compared to an average of just three per year under his predecessor. One of the MPs who have benefited is said to be Labour backbencher Janet Anderson, who repaid almost £5,750 privately after overclaiming petty cash. Lib Dem MP Norman Baker told the Telegraph the practice should be brought to an end. "When someone has admitted to doing something wrong, and certainly when they're paying back money, then that's a matter that should be public," he said. "Constituents deserve to know how their MPs are acting in a public capacity. "And where public money is involved, we have a right to openness and accountability." (my view)-They paid back NOTHING......why payback in secret?......not to save face because we do not know who these"secret"MPs are and they use this"Secret" excuse to get away with NOT paying.......sack them you pieces of shit!