MPs' expenses role for chairman of Bristol heart babies inquiry

The academic who chaired the Bristol Royal Infirmary heart inquiry looks set to take charge of the body responsible for cleaning up MPs' expenses.

Professor Sir Ian Kennedy was expected to be named today as the chairman of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

Reports of his selection by the Commons Speaker's Committee came from Parliamentary sources last night, ahead of the publication today of the Kelly Report, which is expected to demand swingeing cuts in the cash MPs can claim.

Ipsa will have the task of consulting on the reforms proposed by Sir Christopher Kelly before deciding how they will be implemented.

An expert on the law and ethics of health, Sir Ian, 68, is Emeritus Professor at University College London and chaired the Healthcare Commission from 2003-09.

He chaired the public inquiry into children's heart surgery at Bristol Royal Infirmary, which probed surgical failures, brought the issue of organ retention without relatives' consent into the public eye and published far-reaching recommendations for changes in medical practices when its report was published in 2001.

MPs have had no role in his selection, although they will eventually be asked to approve the committee's decision.

The eagerly-awaited Kelly Report is expected to call for an end to claims for mortgage payments, as well as a ban on the use of taxpayers' money to employ relatives and the abolition of second home allowances for MPs who live within an hour's commuting time of Westminster.

Travel, communications and food claims are also thought likely to be in line for deep cuts, under plans which Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other party leaders are committed to implementing.