Expense claims relating to the funeral of Baroness Thatcher

Request

  • Can you tell me if expenses claimed by MP's and Peers will be published also will it be published how much was claimed for flowers and wreaths by MP's and Peers

  • What will MP's be allowed to claim for the week of Margaret Thatcher's death and funeral

  • Will the total cost of the funeral be published, if so where?


Response

Members of Parliament are permitted, under the MPs’ Scheme of Business Costs and Expenses (‘the Scheme’), to claim for expenses legitimately incurred as a result of their parliamentary duties.  You can view the latest edition of the Scheme, which details the rules regarding MPs’ business costs and expenses, on our website.     

Taking your requests in turn:

  1. Can you tell me if expenses claimed by MP's and Peers will be published?

Yes, we publish details of MPs’ claims for business costs and expenses on our website every two months, three months in arrears.  You may view the published information by visiting our publication website.  Claims made in April and May 2013 will be published from 12th September 2013. 

IPSA is not the authority responsible for making payments to Members of the House of Lords.  To request this information you may wish to contact the House of Lords FOI team, via the following email address: FOILords@parliament.uk.

  1. Will it be published how much was claimed for flowers and wreaths?

Claims for such expenses would not be allowed under the Scheme. 

  1. What will MP's be allowed to claim for the week of Margaret Thatcher's death and funeral?

The rules governing MPs’ business costs and expenses are detailed in the Scheme, a link to which is provided above.  MPs may claim for any expenses incurred as a result of their parliamentary duties.

You may also be referring to the recall of Parliament on 10th April 2013.  In the event of a Parliamentary recall, the Scheme states:

“10.13 IPSA will, in the event of a recall of Parliament during Recess, settle claims for any reasonable travel by an MP and his or her spouse/partner or dependants to Westminster or an MP’s London Area residence. This includes international travel back to the UK and may include return travel to the foreign location, up to a maximum of £3,750 per MP.”

4. Will the total cost of the funeral be published, if so where?

The information you request is not held by IPSA.  To obtain this information, you may wish to contact the Cabinet Office FOI team, via the following email address: FOI.team@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk.

Ref:
F1314-008
Disclosure:
24 April 2013
Categories:
GENERAL EXPENSES ENQUIRY
Exemptions Applied:
None