West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has today called for a reduction of costs to run MPs expenses and for the re-organisation of the body set up to monitor them. The MP has written to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority asking the board to consider outsourcing its outstanding activities to the private sector. Harriett was responding to a consultation asking for views on IPSA's plans to raise MPs’ pay after the next election. The body was created in 2009 to independently verify MPs expenses and office running costs and to manage the staff payroll. By 2015 the body operating costs of IPSA will have topped £30m to oversee the running costs for 650 MPs and staff. Harriett has written to the consultation process and rejected the proposals for a pay rise and asked the Board to consider outsourcing. As a former pension fund manager, she has also suggested alternative pension and benefits arrangement for 2015 and beyond. Harriett commented: “I have always been a supporter of any proposals which reduce the total costs of government. “Now that all MPs’ expenditure is totally transparent, I would expect that the whole system can be easily and cheaply out-sourced saving millions of pounds. “I think IPSA has performed a valuable function but now the system is up and running I feel it is time for a rethink on how the body operates in the future.”