Rulings on MPs' business costs claims

Request

Please provide me the sanctions available to IPSA where an MP has failed to disclose any information required under the Scheme, for example, but not exclusively, where required changes have not been notified or inadequately or falsely notified?

Secondly, in the last accounting period, how many financial penalties of any kind have been imposed, and what proportion those penalties bear to total infringements of the rules?

Response

I can confirm that we hold information relevant to your request.

The Scheme of MPs’ Staffing and Business Costs sets out the rules on what MPs can and cannot claim for.

When IPSA becomes aware of an error we will liaise with the MP and their office to determine why the error has occurred and try to correct it.

Where claims are found to be ineligible or outside the rules, IPSA seeks to recover the money.

Please find linked the guidance, provided to MPs, about the rules and the eligibility of claims.

It explains the process by which IPSA reviews and approves claims and what happens if claims are refused.

IPSA is unable to impose financial penalties, but it can refer matters for investigation to the Compliance Officer for IPSA, who can also, at the request of an MP, review a determination by IPSA.

The Compliance Officer is a separate legal entity from IPSA, more information can be found on their website.

Ref:
RFI-202111-20
Disclosure:
11 January 2022
Categories:
Regulation
Exemptions Applied: