Information relating to the number of people employed on the Parliamentary estate

Request

I am researching an enquiry that I recently received from a Member of the House of Commons. The enquiry was: How many people are employed on the parliamentary estate?

As part of this, I wondered if you could tell me how many staff are employed by MPs? I understand that many of these would be based in the constituency, so if you could tell me the number of staff employed by MPs who are actually based on the parliamentary estate, that would be exceptionally helpful. If that is not possible, an overall number of Members’ staff would still be most helpful. I could explain to the Member of Parliament who has given me this enquiry that many staff employed by MPs are in fact not employed on the parliamentary estate.

I wondered also: could you also tell me how many staff are employed by Members of the House of Lords?

Response

To date, 2,898 members of staff employed by MPs have been registered by IPSA. However, we do not hold information that allows us to determine where MPs’ staff members are based. This is partly because many MPs’ staff members occasionally work at both the constituency and Westminster offices throughout the working week. 

We do not hold information on the total number of people employed on the parliamentary estate. IPSA is responsible for establishing and paying Members of the House of Commons and their staff their salaries and expenses. IPSA does not hold any information on other individuals employed on the parliamentary estate, including the number of staff employed by Members of the House of Lords.

The Department of Resources at the House of Commons and the House of Lords Information Office may hold the information you are seeking. If you have not already done so, then you may wish to write to the Freedom of Information Officer at the following addresses:

House of Commons, Department of Resources, 7 Millbank, Westminster SW1A 0AA

Alternatively, you can send an email to: foicommons@parliament.uk.

House of Lords, Information Office, London, SW1A 0PW

Alternatively, you can send an email to: hlinfo@parliament.uk.

Ref:
FOI073
Disclosure:
22 September 2010
Categories:
MPs' STAFFING
Exemptions Applied:
None