Committee publication · Correspondence · 17 July 2025
Correspondence with IPSA, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and Clerk of the Journals on IPSA-funded newsletters dated 14 July 2025
From: Committee on Standards
Summary
Three House authorities—IPSA, the Clerk of the Journals, and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards—respond jointly to the Committee on Standards' 14 July 2025 letter on MP-funded newsletters and multi-issue surveys. They confirm that House-provided equipment and stationery can be used for newsletters under parliamentary duties rules; that delivery costs can be claimed from office budgets; and that content must comply with IPSA's principles (factual, informative, parliamentary purpose, integrity) rather than prescriptive criteria. They address ten further questions on party political content, referendums, devolved representatives, breach investigation, and safe harbour advice.
Key findings
- House-funded equipment and cream stationery can be used for IPSA-funded newsletters and surveys provided content complies with parliamentary rules and IPSA principles.
- IPSA removed 'self-promotion' from guidance on 1 April as it caused confusion; Members must instead ensure compliance with parliamentary purpose and integrity principles.
- No requirement to state IPSA funding in imprints on communications, but Members must comply with Electoral Commission rules on imprints, especially during election periods.
- Delivery costs for newsletters via Royal Mail or door-to-door companies can be claimed under office costs postage budget.
- IPSA does not provide pre-approved templates; each communication must be assessed individually under IPSA principles. Members should contact their IPSA Account Manager for guidance on draft material.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Richard Lloyd OBE, Eve Samson CBE, Daniel Greenberg CB, Alberto Costa MP, IPSA, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Clerk of the Journals, Electoral Commission
Notable line
“From 1 April IPSA removed 'self promotion' from the guidance as it caused confusion and was difficult to enforce.”
Key Quotes
“All three of us adopt a principles-based approach to the application of the rules relating to the content of Members' communications with their constituents and others.”
“There is no bar to using House-provided stationery for any purpose within the rules.”
“From 1 April IPSA removed 'self promotion' from the guidance as it caused confusion and was difficult to enforce.”
“Members are permitted to use IPSA funded newsletters to update their constituents on their parliamentary activity, which may include campaigning on local issues.”
“IPSA is not considering 'pre-approved' templates as each communication needs to be assessed under its principles.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗