David Cameron plans to introduce a system which will publish
the expenses claims of all Conservative MPs on the web in real
time.
The Conservatives want this type of system introduced for MPs of
all parties.
This will allow the public to view all the expenses claimed by
MPs online when they are submitted.
Asked whether the Conservatives would push for the system to be
introduced for all MPs, if elected at the next election, a
spokesman said: "As a party we will introduce it unilaterally and I
am sure the House of Commons will come out with its own
system."
Cameron mentioned the online system in exchanges in the House of
Commons yesterday and
Gordon Brown has since backed the idea to improve
transparency.
The plan should help prevent some of the outrageous expense
claims being made but could risk revealing personal information
about MPs if it is not secured in the right way.
John Pugh, Liberal Democrat MP for Southport, said he supported
a system that gets MPs expenses details to the public but warned
that security must be considered carefully.
He said the House of Commons could arrange for a secure system
but he added that it could be better if an organisation with a good
understanding of security did it.
Pugh said it is important that the expenses information gets out
to the public but it is less important how it gets out.