Since 2010, responsibility for deciding the salaries and expenses of Members of Parliament has rested with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). In addition, IPSA has responsibility for the administration of parliamentary pensions. IPSA is a public body which works independently, and MPs do not set the rules that govern their costs.
Following a review by IPSA, it was decided that MPs’ salaries would be benchmarked against average pay rises for public sector workers and updated on an annual basis. This means that MPs’ pay reflects developments in the wider economy.
There is a clear scheme setting out the fundamental principles and rules within which MPs must operate. These rules ensure that expenses can only be claimed when they are incurred while carrying out parliamentary duties.
The Scheme is regularly reviewed to ensure that its budgets and rules remain up to date. IPSA also publishes details of the expenses claimed by every MP. You can find full details of the expenses scheme at www.theipsa.org.uk.