PM backs harman on expenses

GORDON Brown today defended moves to keep details of MPs' expenses secret.

Downing Street backed Commons leader Harriet Harman and Commons Speaker Michael Martin after they tried to prevent MPs having to publish receipts for expenditure.

The Prime Minister's spokesman said: "It's a position that has support across the House of Commons."

The Commons authorities have spent £1 million scanning and editing about a million receipts after losing battles in the High Court and an Information Tribunal. These are now likely never to see the light of day after Ms Harman announced that MPs will be asked to back changes to the system so they do not have to reveal exactly how they have spent public funds.

Freedom of information campaigners urged peers to protect Parliament's reputation by blocking the changes, under which expenditure would be published under 26 categories. This would let MPs conceal money spent on plasma TV screens and furniture, as not all receipts would be published.