Consultation on the Scheme of MPs’ Staffing and Business Costs

Date published: 13 April 2023

IPSA has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the Scheme of MPs’ Staffing and Business Costs (‘the Scheme’).

The Scheme sets out the rules, eligibility and budgets governing MPs’ business costs.

The anticipated changes to UK parliamentary constituency boundaries and the repeal of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act impact the eligibility rules for both the Loss of Office payments and the winding-up payments made to MPs who leave Parliament.

We are proposing changes to the Scheme which would clarify the eligibility rules and ensure that they are fair and provide the appropriate support to MPs leaving Parliament.

In addition, the House of Commons Administration Committee has recently undertaken an inquiry which includes the impact of the transition from being an MP to life after Parliament on individuals and their families.

We have considered the Committee’s report and recommendations in finalising the proposals for this consultation.

Finally, we are also asking about the possible equality impacts of the changes proposed in this consultation.

ENDS

For more details contact IPSA's Press Office.

Notes to editors

1. IPSA was created in 2009 by the Parliamentary Standards Act. The Act was amended in 2010 by the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act. Together they gave IPSA three main responsibilities:

to regulate MPs’ business costs
to determine MPs’ pay and pension arrangements
to provide financial support to MPs in carrying out their parliamentary functions

2. IPSA is independent of Parliament and the Government. This allows us to make decisions about the rules on business costs and on MPs’ pay ourselves, without interference.

3. View the full consultation document on our website.

4. Responses can be made using an online survey / or they can be emailed to consultation@theipsa.org.uk.

5. The consultation closes at 11.59pm 2 June 2023.