Claims for phones, tablets and laptops submitted in December 2014

Request

Please could you provide the names of MPs that claimed for mobiles, laptops or computers in the remainder of the 90 day grace period after September 30.

I have October and November, so just need until the end of December - will that cover the whole time frame?


Response

IPSA holds the information that you request.

MPs can claim the cost of computer and mobile hardware, necessary for the exercise of their parliamentary functions, under Chapter Six of the MPs’ Scheme of Business Costs and Expenses (‘the Scheme’).

Chapter Eight of the Scheme addresses the winding-up of an MP’s office once they stand down, and advises that MPs who leave Parliament may choose to transfer any such items to their successor or another MP, or donate equipment to a charity of their choice. If an MP makes a profit from disposing of office equipment, they should refund this to IPSA.

Paragraph 10.19 of the Scheme states that “for the six months prior to the expected dissolution of Parliament, claims for purchases of office equipment, IT and furniture under Office Costs Expenditure will not be allowed. In exceptional circumstances where such purchases are necessary, prior approval from IPSA will be required”. This came into effect for expenditure incurred after 30 September 2014. As MPs have 90 days after incurring expenditure to submit a claim, claims submitted in October and November for expenditure incurred prior to 30 September are not subject to this restriction.

You may be aware that we publish all claims for business costs and expenses on our dedicated publication website.  However, it is not always possible to separately identify claims for specific types of computer hardware. Please therefore find, at Annex A, a list of all MPs who have claimed for a mobile phone, laptop or tablet device in December 2014.

Annex A

MP Name

  • Peter Lilley

  • Grant Shapps

  • Graham Stringer

  • Edward Timpson

  • Elizabeth Anne McInnes[1]

  • Jim Hood

  • Don Foster

[1] Ms McInnes’ claim was made under the Start-Up Expenditure budget, which is designed to meet the costs of setting up one or more constituency offices as a new MP. Claims made under the Start-Up Expenditure budget can be made for 365 days from the day after the date of election of the MP. For more information about Start-Up Expenditure, see Chapter Eight of the Scheme.

Ref:
F1415-129
Disclosure:
5 March 2015
Categories:
GENERAL EXPENSES ENQUIRY
Exemptions Applied:
None