Travel perks under review in House

Lockwood Smith. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Politicians are being asked for their opinions on cancelling travelling entitlements for MPs convicted of crimes.

Speaker Lockwood Smith proposed changes after former MP Taito Phillip Field was this month found guilty of 11 charges of bribery and corruption as an MP, and 15 charges of wilfully trying to obstruct or pervert the course of justice.

At present there is nothing to stop him from claiming thousands of dollars worth of travel entitlements.

Having entered Parliament in 1993, Field was still entitled to claim for up to 12 free domestic return air fares a year.

He could also claim 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.

Dr Smith said Field would have an opportunity to comment on the proposal.

Current and former MPs would also be consulted.

Prime Minister John Key previously said the entitlements - which included perks for Field's wife - were inappropriate.

Dr Smith expected to make a decision next month.

He also said he was seeking further information from officials about a decision to end the freeze on travel rebates for former members.

Once he had that information, he would talk to the Parliamentary Service Commission about whether to reinstate the freeze.

The commission advises the Speaker about services provided to the House and MPs.

In 2003, it recommended members elected before 1999 have their entitlements frozen at the level they were at the end of that term of Parliament.

In November 2003, the speaker Jonathan Hunt issued a document setting out travel and other perks available to MPs.

It also outlined changes proposed for former members' entitlements.

"Current members elected before 1999 will have their retiring travel entitlements frozen at the level they qualify for at the end of this current term of Parliament," the document said.

This never happened.

In 2007, the next speaker, Margaret Wilson, issued a directive on the freeze.

"A person who was a member during the 2002-2005 Parliament and who was also a member before the 1999 election has his or her travel entitlements frozen at the level for which he or she qualified at the end of the 2002-2005 term of Parliament."

But the 2008 Parliamentary Travel, Accommodation, Attendance, and Communications Services Determination overturned her directive.

The determination would "remove the freeze on former members' travel rebates in respect of parliamentary terms after the 2002-2005 Parliament".

As a result, travel perks were restored to 23 MPs, 12 of whom were not re-elected.

Present and former MPs elected before 1999 received a 60 per cent discount on travel after nine years of service; after 12 years they get 75 per cent and after 15 years they get 90 per cent.

- NZPA