Emphasising IPSA’s principles

IPSA’s regulatory approach is evolving.

We set rules MPs and their offices must follow, but we’re now placing a higher emphasis on our principles for the legitimate use of public funds.

Every MP – or their proxy – must approve all costs and ensure they meet our regulatory principles before they are submitted to IPSA.

These principles are:

Parliamentary purpose: MPs may only access IPSA funding for costs resulting from carrying out their parliamentary functions. They cannot use IPSA funding for electoral campaigning, party political work or activities designed to promote their own political profile.

Value for money: MPs must take proportionate steps to achieve value for money when using IPSA funding and they and their staff must show good financial management.

Integrity: MPs’ decisions must not be aimed at gaining financial or other material benefits for themselves or connected individuals and must consider conflicts of interest when it comes to IPSA funding.

Accountability: MPs are accountable for their decisions and must be prepared to explain how they have met our rules, guidance, and regulatory principles.

We want to make sure MPs have the right amount of flexibility to determine how to run their parliamentary affairs.

But we also want to close any funding “loopholes” – by asking MPs and their offices to consider whether the spending of any public funds is justified before the cost is submitted to IPSA.

Our Scheme of MPs’ Staffing and Business Costs will continue to outline the fundamental rules which must be followed, and we always take robust action to address regulatory risks and provide transparency to the public.

We carry out checks, analysis, and audits of individual business costs and general trends in our data, all of which is published on our website.

This evolution of our approach brings us in line with other areas of public life and other regulators – such as the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards – which operate a similar model.

And IPSA works hard to transparently scrutinise, on behalf of the taxpayer, the way MPs spend public money.