IPSA's staffing costs and expenses policy

Request

  1. The amount of remuneration given to (a) each IPSA board member; (b) each member of the senior leadership team; and (c) the interim Chief Executive; and the reasons why this information has not been published on the IPSA website in the 'About Us' section where details are given of the occupants of these positions.

  2. The amount IPSA has spent on outside consultants and is planning to spend on outside consultants: and details of the services provided by outside consultants to IPSA.

  3. The total IPSA annual budget and the proportion in staffing costs.

  4. The total number of staff employed by IPSA and the numbers in the following per annum pay ranges: (a) less than £20,000; (b) £20-30,000; (c) £30-40,000; (d) £40-50,000; (e) £50-60,000; (f) £60-70,000; (g) £70-80,000; (h) £80-90,000; (i) £90-100,000; (j) over £100,000.

  5. The expenses scheme that IPSA staff use to claim expenses.

  6. If IPSA orders equipment, stationery and other office-related expenditure or if it expects staff to pay for office-related items and then be reimbursed.

  7. Full details of bonus and allowance schemes for IPSA staffs/board members and any amounts already paid to staffs/board members.

  8. On which date did IPSA become operational and on what date were salaries first paid to IPSA employees.

  9. On what basis it was decided that Members of Parliament should incur office costs and then be reimbursed through IPSA, and what is the timescale to reimburse MPs and their staffs for office-related costs.

  10. Details of all expenses claimed by IPSA employees and members of the IPSA board.

  11. The reasons why the 128 constituencies listed as 'London Area' are ineligible for their MPs to claim for accommodation; and the criteria applied for determining a 'London Area' seat.


Response

In relation to your questions 1, 2, 3 and 4 (revised), we intend to publish this information in the future as part of IPSA’s commitment to transparency. As such, this information is exempt from disclosure under section 22(1) (information intended for future publication) of the FOIA.  Further, in question 1 you also ask for the reasons why certain information has not already been published by IPSA on its website. As a newly established organisation, IPSA’s website is under continuous development to enhance the information available on it.

In question 5 you ask for a copy of the expenses scheme that IPSA staff use to claim expenses. The IPSA Expenses: Policy and Procedures document is attached. Please also see these procedures in relation to question 6. The IPSA expenses procedures set out those expenses for which staff can be reimbursed. All other reasonable office facilities are made available by IPSA.

In question 7 you ask for full details of bonus and allowances schemes for IPSA staff/board members and any amounts already paid. For members of staff on IPSA terms and conditions and board members, no bonus and allowances schemes exist and therefore no amounts have been paid. Some staff on secondment or transfer (e.g. from the MoJ or HoC) may be eligible for such awards under their own terms and conditions. In question 8 you ask on which date did IPSA become operational and on what date were salaries first paid to IPSA employees. The answer is 30 April 2010 for both.

In question 9 you ask for the basis on which it was decided that Members of Parliament should incur office costs and then be reimbursed through IPSA. This information has already been published. In accordance with section 21 of the FOIA (information accessible by other means), I have not disclosed it here and refer you to the Annex to the Expenses Scheme, Report on the Consultation, and in particular chapter 2: Expenses versus Allowances. This can be found on our website (http://www.parliamentarystandards.org.uk/). You also ask what the timescale is to reimburse MPs and their staff. Currently reimbursements will only be made to MPs, not to the staff. Expenses will be paid every Wednesday and IPSA anticipates it will take an average of seven days to process each expenses claim.

In question 10, the expenses claimed by IPSA’s Board members and senior staff are published on IPSA’s website under the link for IPSA senior staff business costs. This can be found under the publications section of the website and is updated on a quarterly basis. Please find attached a copy for ease of reference. In relation to other members of staff, I would advise you that expenses totalling £345.20 have been claimed. Please be aware that IPSA’s policy is to publish only salary bandings for junior staff, and not the details of their expense claims.

In response to question 11, this information has already been published and is therefore accessible by other means. In accordance with section 21 of the FOIA I would refer you to the Report on the Consultation, chapter 4: Working from Two Locations as above.

Ref:
FOI019
Disclosure:
14 June 2010
Categories:
IPSA - STAFFIPSA - FINANCIAL
Exemptions Applied:
Section 21