MPs' expenses returned to the news agenda as parliament opened. Hundreds of MPs were sent letters by Sir Thomas Legg, the auditor, detailing their misdemeanours. David Cameron, however, was not among them, despite making significant claims. Faced with the prospect of paying back large sums, many MPs have begun to challenge Legg's authority.

An extra 500 UK troops will be sent to Afghanistan, Gordon Brown is expected to announce at the first Prime Minister's Questions of the parliamentary session. Thirty-seven soldiers have died in the country since mid-July, when parliament rose for recess.

National postal strikes may begin on Thursday 22 October, the Communication Workers Union has said, unless Royal Mail enters a last-minute deal. The CWU said Royal Mail managers were refusing to sign an agreement determining the scope of staff cuts, as well as job and pay security guarantees for workers who will remain in their jobs. This month, the union's members voted three-to-one in favour of strike action.

Inflation fell to a five-year low in September, the Office for National Statistics reported. The drop to 1.1 per cent, down from 1.6 per cent during August, came as energy prices fell from the record highs that took inflation to a peak of 5.2 per cent last September. If inflation falls below 1 per cent, Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, will have to write a letter of explanation to the Chancellor.

An attempt to prevent reporting of a parliamentary question on Trafigura's alleged dumping of toxic waste in Côte d'Ivoire has been dropped. The law firm Carter-Ruck had tried to stop the media from revealing the details. The press has had a long-standing privilege under common law to report the proceedings of parliament.

A ban on cigarette vending machines in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has been approved. The amendment to the government's Health Bill was passed by the Commons without a vote. The Scottish Parliament is considering a similar ban.

The far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders won an appeal against a Home Office decision barring his entry to the UK. Wilders, who leads the Freedom Party, has been accused of Islamophobia. The Home Office will decide in "due course" whether to fight the ruling. Wilders is planning a visit to the UK, his solicitor said.

Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg are to be grilled by MPs live on television over the representation of women, ethnic minorities and disabled people in parliament. The discussion will be part of Speaker's Conference. Party leaders are being urged to have US-style TV debates before the election.

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