Explanatory note

This Order brings into force provisions of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 (“the 2009 Act”) relating to MPs’ salaries and to the MPs’ allowances scheme under which the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (“the IPSA”) is to pay allowances to Members of Parliament.

Article 2 brings into force provisions of the 2009 Act on 29th March 2010. Article 2(a) brings into force section 5 which makes provision for the scheme itself and the IPSA’s duty to pay allowances under it; and article 2(b) brings into force section 6 which provides for the handling of claims made under the scheme.

Article 3 brings into force other provisions of the 2009 Act on the day after the General Election in 2010 (or, should there be more than one General Election in 2010, the day after the first one). Article 3(a) brings into force section 4 which provides for the IPSA to pay the salaries of members of the House of Commons; article 3(b) brings into force section 10 which creates an offence of providing false or misleading information for claims under the MPs’ allowances scheme; and article 3(c) brings into force paragraph 17 and provisions of 18 of Schedule 1, which make provision in relation to the functions of the IPSA.

A regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared for this Order as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.