Watchdog warns MPs: no more jobs for family unless you can prove their worth

partners or children. But they are limited to hiring just one at a time and must publicly declare the situation.

But Ms Evans hinted that when a consultation ends later this month she will decide to tighten the rules so MPs in the future must prove other better candidates were not available.

“It is a controversial area. On the one hand, public expectations have shifted and there is an expectation for equal opportunity employment. On the other hand, you do have MPs who have specific requirements,” Ms Evans said.

“It all comes down to what the job is, and could we define more clearly what the responsibilities and roles are. Because it may be that if you can more clearly define specific roles, the answer becomes apparent as to who can take on that role.

“We would want to see the best possible person for the job being recruited in order to provide public value for money. That’s the key.”

Earlier this summer, Ms Evans became only the second ever chairman of Ipsa, a watchdog created after the investigation into MPs’ expenses.

During her 35-year career she has helped to regulate the police, lawyers, doctors and broadcasters as well as chairing two independent inquiries into health care, before beating around 30 rivals to win her new role.

Ms Evans is urging MPs to publish a yearly explanation of how their expenses are spent.

“The more that MPs can tell their constituents about how they use the public’s money and what they do in their jobs, so much the better,” she said. “It makes sense for MPs to provide as much information as they can.”

The first ever “annual account of expenditure” by MPs will be published in November.

Participation is optional, but it is designed as a way for them to get on the front foot. It gives MPs the chance, for example, to explain how many constituents’ cases were dealt with from the salaries paid to staff.