Connected parties receiving less than £700 this calendar year

IPSA holds the information that you have requested.

Under the terms of the MPs’ Scheme of Business Costs and Expenses (‘the Scheme’), Staffing Expenditure may be claimed for the salary of one employee who is a connected party (unless an MP employed more than one connected party on 7 May 2010). A definition of what constitutes a ‘connected party’ can be found at paragraph 3.15 of the Scheme, a copy of which is available on our website at the following address: http://parliamentarystandards.org.uk/IPSAMPs/Scheme/Pages/default.aspx.

When an MP employs a new member of staff, they must create a contract of employment which requires certifying whether or not the employee is a connected party.

At the end of each financial year, we publish information on connected parties employed by MPs, including their name, job title and the amount they received in remuneration during the financial year (in £5,000 salary bands). This information can be found on our website.

As at the time of responding, one connected party who was employed at some point since 1 January 2016 has received less than £700 in remuneration so far this calendar year.