The official inquiry into House of Commons expenses — which arrived in Northern Ireland today — could produce an outright ban on MPs employing relatives, its chairman has told this newspaper.

The Committee on Standards in Public Life is holding a public hearing in Belfast today, as part of its work ahead of producing a keynote report on expenses reform.

Belfast Telegraph reporter David Gordon is giving evidence to the advisory body today, along with representatives of local political parties.

He was asked to take part, after making a written submission to the Committee which stressed the need for lessons to be applied at Stormont as well as Westminster.

His submission also warned about Northern Ireland being left as a “slum” in accountability terms. It cited the ongoing secrecy about donations to political parties here, as well as areas of ongoing concern surrounding MLA office-running expenses.

The committee is tasked with reforming the Parliamentary expenses system that has been badly damaged by revelations on the use and abuse of the MP second home allowance.

Northern Ireland-related issues on the committee’s agenda include employment of family members by politicians, double-jobbing by MPs who are also MLAs, and the payment of Parliamentary expenses to Sinn Fein MPs who boycott the Commons.

Eight of Northern Ireland’s MPs currently have family members on their payroll, as do a number of MLAs.

Committee chairman Sir Christopher Kelly told the Belfast Telegraph that halting the employment of relatives is one of the potential options on the agenda.

“One of the things we’ll have to balance out in the end is, if what you’re going to do is to put the integrity of the expenses system beyond doubt, given the degree of public distrust there is now, should we actually say that in present circumstances that requires us to put a ban on the employment of family members, with appropriate transitional arrangements?,” he said.

“I realise in saying that, that this is a particular issue in Northern Ireland for historical reasons, among other things,” he added.

Sir Christopher also said: “Like so many of these issues, it’s by no means black and white. I’ve been left in no doubt that there are large numbers of family members working for Members of Parliament who are doing a fantastic job, providing great value for money and working longer hours than any normal paid employee would do.”

Today’s hearing, in Belfast’s Hilton Hotel, is the only evidence session for the inquiry being held outside London.

Sir Christopher also said that he expected there would be some lessons for the UK’s devolved bodies from the inquiry. “It would surprise me if there weren’t,” he added.

Mr Gordon in the only journalist taking part today. In his statement to the hearing, he said: “I fully understood that your remit begins and ends with MP expenses.

“But I hope you will make it clear that you expect devolved institutions to learn the key lessons and abide by your guiding principles.

“Northern Ireland has been left behind too many times when it comes to the development of a standards framework for public life.”

He also said: “In Scotland, they have already appointed someone to have a look at what we say and see if there are any implications for the Scottish Parliament.”

* The employment of family members is declared by the following Northern Ireland MPs in the current Commons register:

Gregory Campbell (wife, part-time), Nigel Dodds (wife), Jeffrey Donaldson (wife, part-time), Rev William McCrea (son), Dr Alasdair McDonnell (niece), Ian Paisley (two daughters and MLA son Ian Jnr as a part-time assistant), Iris Robinson (daughter in law part time and son), and Peter Robinson (daughter and son)