MPs braced for expenses demands

MPs have had their expenses scrutinised still further

MPs are returning to the Commons after the summer break to face demands they repay thousands of pounds in expenses or do more to justify them.

Former senior civil servant Sir Thomas Legg was asked to scrutinise their claims when the expenses scandal emerged earlier this year.

The BBC understands he has set retrospective limits for some items.

But this move has angered many MPs and some are saying they will not repay the money.

The BBC also understands Sir Thomas has set his own annual limits of what he believes they should have claimed.

These are £1,000 a year for gardening, and £2,000 a year for cleaning.

Whitehall sources have indicated "the majority" of MPs will have to justify their claims or pay money back.

The BBC's political correspondent Iain Watson said it is "highly likely" Prime Minister Gordon Brown will have to pay back cash.

Cleaning expenses

After details of claims since 2004 were published earlier this year, MPs - including all three party leaders - have agreed to repay claims totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Mr Brown is among possibly hundreds of MPs due to receive letters this week from the auditor appointed to investigate expense claims over the past five years, although there is no suggestion of impropriety on his part.

Sir Thomas is understood to be writing to the MPs asking them to either give more details on their expense claims or to pay the money back into the public purse.

Last May it emerged Mr Brown had paid his brother Andrew £6,577 for arranging cleaning services for his Westminster flat for 26 months.

At the time Downing Street said the brothers had shared a cleaner who worked in both their flats. Andrew Brown had paid her wages and had then been reimbursed by the prime minister, who then claimed cleaning expenses.

It was also revealed the prime minister had claimed twice for the same plumbing work within six months of each other. The House of Commons Fees Office said this had been an "inadvertent mistake".

Expense accusations

It apologised for having not spotted it and Mr Brown is understood to have repaid the sum involved - believed to be £150.

It was also reported Mr Brown may have billed taxpayers for his Sky Sports subscription.

After the claims were made public in the Daily Telegraph earlier this year, many MPs were accused of extravagance, over-claiming and avoiding tax on home sales.

Several were found to have repeatedly "switched" their designated second homes, meaning they were able to refurbish both their homes at public expense.

The BBC understands Sir Thomas - who was appointed by Downing Street - has been looking at whether MPs were using money to improve their properties, rather than just maintain them as the rules allow.

He is also thought to have examined instances where MPs used public money to pay off the capital on their mortgages, rather than mortgage interest.

It is understood Sir Thomas will allow MPs three weeks to respond to questions over their claims but once that process is complete, his full report will be made public, probably in December.