MPs may be banned from employing their children to work for them while in office, following the controversy surrounding Kent MP Derek Conway.

The Government is proposing to put a stop to ministers giving their offspring jobs funded by the public purse, such as researchers and assistants, in a bid to tightening members’ expenses and improve the public’s perception of the Commons.

Ex-Tory representative for Sidcup and Old Bexley Derek Conway hit the headlines earlier this year after it emerged he paid one of his sons – a full-time student - more than £40,000 for reported research work, no record of which was found.

Mr Conway was suspended from parliament for 10 days this year and lost the Conservative whip. He was ordered to pay £13,161.

The proposal paper by Commons leader Harriet Harman states: “Whilst spouses may have the skills, experience or qualifications to make them the most appropriate candidate for work in their partner's parliamentary or constituency office, this is less likely to apply to MPs' children, whether under 18 or young adults.

"Furthermore, recent incidents involving the employment by MPs of their children demonstrate clearly the negative impact this has on public confidence in members."

The ban would not extend to MPs' spouses or partners, and would not apply to people already employed by members.