Convicted MPs to lose travel perks

MPs found guilty of serious criminal offences will lose their travel perks, a decision sparked by Taito Phillip Field's recent conviction for corruption.

The former Mangere MP was last month found guilty of bribery and obstruction of justice after being found to have accepted work on properties in return for immigration assistance.

Under the Electoral Act, an MP convicted of serious criminal offences must vacate their seat.

However, they are not required to give up travel entitlements available to former MPs .

An amendment to the rules would require MPs convicted of serious criminal offences to give up their travel privileges, Speaker Lockwood Smith announced today.

"I felt it was appropriate that the travel privileges of former members be stopped where someone was convicted of an offence that would require them to vacate their seat in Parliament," Dr Smith said.

"I have followed a process that included consultation in arriving at my final decision."

Travel privileges for spouses or partners of MPs would also be revoked.

The amendment was expected to take effect by the end of next month, Dr Smith said.

The decision would apply to travel entitlements available to former MPs who entered Parliament before 1999.

Having entered Parliament in 1993, Field could have claimed up to 12 free domestic return air fares a year.

He could also have claimed a 90 per cent discount on international travel, as long as it did not exceed the cost of a return business-class flight to London on Air New Zealand - about $10,000.

Former MPs have come under fire for the ir travel expenses after they were revealed last month.

- NZPA