Bulletin, 7 December (IPSA Annual Survey 2023, Mailchimp subscriptions, payment card reminder, virtual briefing, in-person roadshows)

Date published: 7 December 2023

This week’s bulletin contains information about:

  • IPSA Annual Survey of MPs and Staff 2023

  • Mailchimp subscriptions

  • Payment card reminder

  • Virtual briefings and in-person roadshows

Our phone lines will be closed tomorrow for training. If you have an urgent query, please email us and use the word 'urgent' in the subject line. Our normal phone service will resume on Monday 11 December.

IPSA Annual Survey of MPs and Staff 2023

Our annual survey of MPs and Staff for 2023 is now live. We appreciate your time completing the survey and sharing your experience of working with IPSA over the past year.

We use your feedback to improve our services and to help you focus on what matters and deliver for your constituents.

We are grateful to those of you who completed last year's survey. This year, we want to hear from more of you so we can continue delivering real and tangible improvements to better support your work.

The survey will close on 23 December.

Take the annual survey.

Mailchimp subscriptions

Mailchimp has recently begun charging a subscription fee to use its services. MPs and offices should consider the type of material being shared under a paid-for subscription.

A subscription to Mailchimp can be claimed if the MP can assure themselves that:

  • Mailchimp is collecting the data in the right way to be GDPR compliant.

  • The data collected is not used for purposes excluded under the Scheme, such as party-political activity and campaigning.

  • IPSA-funded subscriptions are not used for purposes disallowed in the Scheme.

For more information, visit What types of advertising and publications can you claim?

Please note: recent changes in law require the use of digital imprints for some online material. IPSA is currently working to produce guidance on this. We aim to update our website shortly. The Electoral Commission has produced guidance on digital imprints.

Payment card reminder

The deadline for October payment card spend is 8 December 2023.

You will also need to have completed your lines predating October spend by this deadline if you have not already done so.

All lines must be reconciled and approved by our Validation Team by 8 December to avoid your card being suspended.

If you encounter any issues that prevent you from meeting this deadline, please let your account manager know as soon as possible.

The November Payment card expenditure has been uploaded onto IPSA Online and is due for reconciliation and approval by our Validation team by 8 January 2024. 

We strongly recommend reconciling any outstanding lines as soon as possible to avoid any pressure on offices in January. 

Further information can be found in our Payment Card Policy and by visiting our guidance on reconciling your Payment Card.

Virtual briefings and in-person roadshows

The General Election Planning Group, in collaboration with the Members’ Services Team, is hosting virtual briefings to help MPs' staff understand the dissolution guidance and the support available to them before, during, and after the next general election – including what to expect during the dissolution period.

The next session will take place on Monday 18 December, from 1 to 2pm virtually via MS Teams.

To register to attend please complete the Microsoft Form and you will be sent an Outlook invitation. 

Upcoming roadshows

A series of in-person roadshows at locations around the UK will also take place over the coming months.

Members Service Team invites all MPs' staff to join us on Thursday 14 December between 10am and 4pm for the Westminster Roadshow in the Attlee Suite, Portcullis House.  

The session will be focused on preparing for the next general election, including guidance around the dissolution period, and the impact of boundary changes.

Representatives from the House Administration and IPSA will be available to answer questions and to talk about the support they will provide during the general election period. 

Further virtual sessions and roadshows will take place in the New Year. They will include in-person events in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the North West, and the North East of England by February 2024.

Please email MST@parliament.uk to register your interest and look out for further details on dates and locations.