Overseas expense claims

IPSA holds some of the information you requested.

Under the Scheme of MPs’ Business Costs and Expenses (‘the Scheme’), travel and subsistence claims may be made for the costs of travel, and travel-related subsistence incurred by MPs or others, which are in support of the MP’s parliamentary functions. MPs are able to claim for travel outside of the UK to other countries in Europe, where it is for parliamentary purposes. No other international travel may be claimed, except in circumstances when Parliament is recalled.

Whilst the Scheme requires that all expense claims must be made in accordance with an MP’s parliamentary duties, MPs are not required to provide specific reasons for individual journeys. IPSA undertakes both pre- and post-validation checks of expense claims, and where the validity of any claim is called into question, then we may require an MP to provide us with further evidence to substantiate the claim.

I can confirm that the claims you refer to, relate to Ms Hair’s travel to Helsinki, Finland although no further details about this trip have been provided.

This concludes our response to your request.