Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010

28 Transparency etc

(1) The Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 3 insert—

“3A General duties of the IPSA

(1) In carrying out its functions the IPSA must have regard to the principle that it should act in a way which is efficient, cost-effective and transparent.

(2) In carrying out its functions the IPSA must have regard to the principle that members of the House of Commons should be supported in efficiently, cost-effectively and transparently carrying out their Parliamentary functions.”

(3) In section 5 (MPs’ allowances scheme) after subsection (5) insert—

“(5A) When the scheme (or revision) is laid, the IPSA must publish in a way it considers appropriate—

(a) the scheme (or revision), and

(b) a statement of its reasons for adopting that scheme (or making that revision).”

(4) In section 6 (dealing with claims under the MPs’ allowances scheme) after subsection (7) insert—

“(8) The IPSA must publish such information as it considers appropriate in respect of—

(a) each claim made under or by virtue of this section, and

(b) each payment of an allowance by the IPSA under or by virtue of this section.

(9) The IPSA must publish the information at times it considers appropriate and in a way it considers appropriate.

(10) The IPSA must determine procedures to be followed by the IPSA in relation to publication of the information, and in doing so must consult—

(a) the Speaker of the House of Commons,

(b) the Leader of the House of Commons,

(c) the House of Commons Committee on Standards and Privileges,

(d) the Compliance Officer, and

(e) any other person the IPSA considers appropriate.”