Author Archives: Neil

The recently published report from the House of Commons Members’ Expenses Committee into the Operation of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 contained some good recommendations for staff based on the oral and written evidence submitted by the branch earlier in the year. Three wins for the branch were the recommendations that staff groups should be included in consultations in the same way that statutory consultees have been in the … Continue reading →

For those branch members who may have missed it on the Parliamentary Intranet, following the Administration Committee’s inquiry into Catering and Retail Services and the Commission’s response, the Catering and Retail Services (CRS) have made some changes to the access arrangement in the Pugin room that will benefit MPs’ staff: The Pugin Room Catering and Retail Services is pleased to advise that, with effect from the 10th January, full pass holders will have … Continue reading →

Westminster-based branch members are encouraged to book a time in January to speak to IPSA about some of the staffing issues coming out of their current consultation on the MPs’ Expenses Scheme. The following message went out in the most recent IPSA bulletin for staff: Annual review – staff sessions As you know, our current consultation on the Annual Review of the MP’s Scheme of Expenses and Costs focuses on … Continue reading →

The BBC wants to make 20% cuts over the next 5 years as a result of a freeze in your licence fee. It will mean the loss of 2,000 jobs and cuts to core news and programming across the BBC. Under the plans 22% of local radio output will go, at a time when listening is up. Current affairs and investigative programming will be cut – with 40% reductions outside … Continue reading →

It’s that time of year again – IPSA has published their annual consultation document on the MPs’ expenses system. Hard copies of the document are available through the Vote Office, or you can view an online copy here. Up for discussion are the overall staffing budget, staff pay, the relationship between party political work and parliamentary work together with many other issues that will affect branch members.

Given recent media reports, branch members (and indeed some MPs!) might be interested in attending one of the upcoming one day courses on privacy and data protection run by Capita Learning & Development. It’s for the MP as the employer to make sure everyone is knowledgeable about data protection and privacy laws to protect themselves and constituents’ information, but the reality of busy offices and caseloads means that often this … Continue reading →

As you will know, Unite along with several other unions is taking industrial action on 30th November.  Colleagues in Parliament will be on strike and consequently there will be picket lines at most entrances to the estate. We ask you to respect these picket lines in support of the action that is being taken to protect colleagues’ pensions. If you are able to take annual leave or make alternative arrangements … Continue reading →

Drop-in advice session 17th November Room O, Portcullis House 12-2pm If you are a member of the Union and want to pop by, say hello and raise any problems with branch officers (IPSA or MP related) we’ll be in Room O, Portcullis House 12-2pm, THIS THURSDAY, 17th November. If you aren’t a member we’ll be happy to discuss the benefits of being a member, but please be aware we can … Continue reading →

Branch Secretary Louise Haigh has written the following article about employment practices in Parliament for Total Politics magazine. For the link click here This week, the cost to the taxpayer of pay-outs to MPs’ staff on winning tribunal claims was revealed.  The figure, £350,000 over the past five years, made headlines. But as a union rep for MPs’ staff I was surprised it wasn’t higher. The negative associations that the … Continue reading →

On 3 November Branch Chair Max Freedman and Political Officer Lauren Edwards gave evidence to the House of Commons Members’ Expenses Committee about how MPs’ staff have been impacted by the operation of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). This followed the written submission we  made earlier in their inquiry on behalf of branch members. To watch a video of the session click here and an uncorrected transcript of the … Continue reading →