IPSA plans changes to MPs’ spending rules

IPSA has today launched a consultation seeking views from members of the public, experts, and MPs and their staff on proposed changes to the way it regulates MPs’ spending and employment practices.

The changes are designed to make clearer the responsibility of MPs to ensure they meet IPSA’s principles before deciding to spend public funds. They also address areas of public concern, including MPs’ accommodation and funding for communications.

Richard Lloyd OBE, Chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, said: 

“IPSA is there to support public confidence and trust in democracy, while ensuring MPs have the funds they need to carry out their roles and represent their constituents.The General Election in July led to the UK having its most diverse Parliament yet. Appropriate funding is crucial to supporting anyone, from all walks of life, to be an MP.

“As a regulator, we also have a duty to provide assurance to the public that public money is being spent in the right way, on the right things.

“This consultation proposes changes to the way we regulate MPs that recognises the importance of appropriate funding and flexibility to enable MPs to do their jobs, alongside the need for transparency and promoting public trust and confidence in our parliamentary democracy.”

Ends

For more information contact the IPSA press office on 07792 242736 or email communications@theipsa.org.uk.

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 it to make decisions about the rules on business costs and on MPs’ pay ourselves, without interference. You can learn more about IPSA's role and responsibilities on our website.

3. The Scheme of MPs’ Staffing and Business Costs ("the Scheme") governs what MPs can and cannot claim.

4. IPSA supports MPs to perform the job they were elected to do – represent their constituents – by giving them the funds they need to run their office, employ staff, commute between their places of work, and keep the lights on.

5. MPs are accountable to IPSA for the money they spend. We give them a budget to help them support and represent their constituents, and they are responsible for the costs they incur, and any claims they make from public funds.

6. MPs’ pay and business costs are open and transparent. Every two months, we publish MPs’ spending data on the website, and once a year we publish MPs’ total spend data for the previous financial year including salaries and other costs not included in the bi-monthly data publication.