Written question asked by Lord Mann (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 July 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 July 2010. It was answered by Charles Walker (Conservative) on Wednesday, 14 July 2010 on behalf of the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

Location

Question: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority for what reasons officials working for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority are working in central London; what consideration was given to locating them in a less expensive part of the country; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: IPSA advises me that the merits of basing IPSA in a location other than Westminster were considered early in IPSA's implementation phase. It was concluded that the most appropriate location for IPSA's permanent home was central London, within a reasonable distance of the Palace of Westminster. This decision was taken to minimise the risk of disruption during the handover period between the old system administered by the House of Commons and IPSA's new system, not least in respect of the potential impact on those staff transferring from the House of Commons to IPSA.

Secondary information