THE subject of MPs and their expenses rattles on in the public domain like a steam train passing through the night.

Given the public’s disgust at what has been going on and the lack of trust in Westminster by the public, now is the time to completely revise the way MP’s are employed.

While the expenses row is being sorted, now surely is the time to bring in a whole number of reforms.

With the modern technology now available, do we really need each MP to have his/her own secretary?

Surely regional offices can deal with most matters. Obviously, ministers would be better served with a PA, but somebody professional without the ties of family is preferential, keeping matters on a strictly more confidential level.

Accountability to one’s public has never been a strong point and as most constituents haven’t got a clue to what their MP is up to and where on any day. Time for that to change.

Each MP should now be brought into line and publish in their local press each month a timetable stating clearly where they were on each day, and the business being carried out.

This will also serve to ask the question if they were on government, public or private business in any particular instance, and therefore identifying private directorship meetings during parliamentary time, for which pro rata MP salary should be forfeited.

In each case the authenticity of this document should be endorsed by the local party secretary.

This would go some way to restoring faith in the faithful, and disgust in the untrustworthy, which can be reflected at the polls.

Steve Plant, Thorney Leys, Witney