Sinn Fein MPs 'off the hook' on Commons attendance
Sinn Fein MPs who choose not to attend UK Parliament but still claim expenses are being let "off the hook", the British Prime Minister said today.
David Cameron pledged to "re-examine" the rules which currently allow the payment of allowances to the party's five MPs, including party president Gerry Adams and the North's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
At Commons question time, Democratic Unionist the Rev William McCrea asked: "Do you believe that it is acceptable that Members' allowances are being paid for Members of this House who do not take their seats nor do they participate in the work of this House? When will this injustice be remedied?"
Mr Cameron replied: "I would like us to look and see if we can make the argument where there isn't a case for Sinn Fein members not to take their seats.
"I think at the moment we let them off the hook. So I would like to re-examine this argument and see if we can find a new way of doing this."
Commons Leader Sir George Young said earlier this month that the payment of allowances was no longer a matter for the Government and was now dealt with by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).
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