One part of the report says:

"Members working both in the constituency and at the House and travelling between the two do incur small costs which are normally paid in cash and for which receipts are not given."

Surely in this day and age an expense for which a business can't give a receipt is not one an MP should be incurring with tax payers money!

What are these 'small costs'? Even the smallest of reputable businesses gives a reciept, no matter how small the amount.

Simon, London, UK

I have to produce a reciept for everything, with a justification as to why it was strictly necessary. If I don't have a reciept, or if i lose it - then tough. Quite right too!

Tim, London,

MPs should be issued with official Switch and Credit cards - if they need anything for their ministerial work they must use these. Their spending will then be easily tracked and all itemised on their monthly statements which would available for inspection - there would be no-where to hide anything and would include every amount. Easy..and like everyone else in the country

Adrian, Edinburgh,

MPs' unsubstantiated expense claims are being restricted to £25 for one reason only - the public is not satisfied that they can be trusted to operate them honestly at the level of £250.

That said, there is absolutely no reason why this still generous claim limit should be the exclusive perk of MPs. I call upon Alsitair Darling tomorrow to show that there is no truth in the claim that there is one rule for them and another for us.

Let everyone enjoy a threshold of £25 per claim before it must be substantiated with documentary evidence.

Ubi, Edinburgh, uk

How long before we see the £24.99 banknote?

Terry Hawker, L'Absie, France

Justification of ALL expenses is the norm outside of Westminster, but it will doubtless be resisted by our elected representatives, since they believe themselves to be entitled to have their snouts in the trough funded by our taxes.

This ties in with a theory I have about why politicians seem so taken with the EC, to the consternation of the majority (?) of voters. Their belief in their "entitlement" is such that the EC must be preserved in its present corrupt form, maybe even expanded, so they can continue to raid the public purse even after they are tossed out of office. Witness Mandelson, Kinnock et al, along with all the other political failures in the Commission. The very thought of Tony Blair, or any of those other unelected no-hopers, becoming the "European President" makes me apoplectic with rage.

Henry, Salisbury, Wilts

In the era when there was trust and loyalty within company’s our allowance for overseas travel were based on either a fixed agreed daily rate for that country or, on a new venture, double the recited hotel bill. Things change in the early 1970’s when the bean-counters moved into the front office, trust disappeared and recites were required for everything, and claims rocketed. Most hotels and restaurants started to offer two recites, some offered blank or undated recites. In Eastern Europe for a pack of cigarettes, reception staff and/or waiters would offer a stack of recites. It became so crazy that it was common places for a group to sit in the lobby filling out recites for each other. Although it was dishonest it was founded on the fact that they were no longer trusted, in most cases it was impossible to get genuine recites and as those demanding them had no perception of working abroad and provided that the little pieces of paper added up to what was claimed they were happy.

Brian Christley, Abergele, UK

What they are most scared of is that we stop voting.
Remember the soundbite they come out with every pre-election - 'It doesn't matter who you vote for, but please use your vote'.
It doesn't matter who's actually in power, they all still live off the taxpayer.
My advice is to not vote and I can promise that if the whole corrupt system crumbles with all the parasites that lurk in it, Britian won't fall into the sea. The world will keep turning.
These politicians have wasted our money - masses of it. And what have we got in return? More and better schools and hospitals, better landscaped towns and cities, safe streets? No, just the promise of ID cards. Aye great.

Absurd, Glasgow, Scotland

As a civil servant working for the MoD, when I claim expenses I have to justify every penny and retain receipts for years afterwards in case of audit... And woe betide if I make an error in claiming a few pence too much, even in error as this results in immediate dismissal! A load of Balls and Coopers if you ask me!

Ian, Fleetwood, UK

So MP's are still exempt from the same tax laws as the rest of us then. What a surprise.
This entire system is a major let-down for all those who have to work away from home for far less income than MPs get and then have to fight the hatchet men of the revenue for every legitimate expense.
If MPs want our respect (and our money) then get on the same tax wagon (not to mention planet) as the rest of us.

KR, Stockport,

This is a welcome first step in scrutinising funds claimed by MPs, now that they have proved that they are not trustworthy under the old rules. Transparency in all financial areas relating to Westminster, and indeed the local Assemblys, is now an absolute necessity. For too long those who govern us have taken a blatant 'Do as I say, not as I do' attitude, and have got away with actions which would result in dismissal and legal action for the working man or woman.

Bryan Bailie, Newtownards, County Down

Surely this is to excellent opportunity for the honourable members to rebuild their reputations with the UK public. I like Fothers have to submit receipts for ALL expenses, not just for expenditure over £25.00. Without proper internal procedures what is stopping the honourable members in submitting numerous expense claims under £25.00 where they do not have to provide a receipt ! I would also insist that checks are carried out by an external body, not an internal Clerk.

The public must be able to trust their MP's, ensuring their claims are justified. All claims whatever the amount must have a receipt. It is the tax payers money they are spending isn't it !!

P Pearce, Manchester, UK

They are as corrupt as the African politicians we so often chastise!

Michael, London,

Yes, great, but where's the army of civil servants coming from to do the checking or is this another goldmine for some American consultancy; and what happens when the records go missing?
What cost to us, the taxpayer?
I can just hear the answer - it will be self financing!!!

AWilliams, Cradley Heath,

The joy of having to submit receipts only when its administratively feasible! It is entirely possible for EVERY expense to be adminsitered - after all MP's still have to "administer" each expense in order to claim for that expense so whether they note all their expenses in a diary or keep receipts (which can be submitted) adds little overhead to MP's. Unless the contention is that MP's simply remember each expense - which would be funny since they frequently forget to report campaign contributions

dave, harrow,

It is also time to check the second home allowance look at Balls & Cooper wrking the system Their Children go to school in London yet claim it is not their main home it beggers the question what address they tell the school I am sure their so called main residance is out of the catchment area of their chosen school !!!

Roger G C Evans, Swansea, Wales

So they will need more expenses to cover the admin of detailing the lower threshold. In the real world managers would be told to just get on with it.....

adrian, london,

In the real world outside Westminster Village we not only have to submit receipts for ALL expenses, but also have to be prepared to justify the expenditure, so travel by taxi may not be acceptable if public transport is available (Speaker Martin, please Note) and lavish meals have to be justified.

Fothers, aylesbury,

. . . . . and about time, too.
MPs of all parties and persuasions have been getting away with it for far too long.
Perhaps someone should re-visit their pensions deal, as well.

Fothers, aylesbury,

Twenty five pounds is a bit silly for accounting purposes in this day and age.
As voter I would settle for a threshold of one hundred pounds.

Weaver, China,

This is long overdue. For too long 'Honourable' members have played fast and loose with taxpayers money.

D.Walker, Burnley, England

Receipts over £25 is a good idea for MPs. How is the scrutiniser (probably a temporary low grade clerk) going to spot the fake ones without extensive training? I've seen some very plausible created ones in my time and reckon I can spot them. Can I have that job?

Joy Hodgson, Rawcliffe, East Yorkshire

Why Do I think they will have already found another way to fleece the public

syd, Leeds, UK