Bulletin, 8 June (Payment card reminder, new Compliance Officer appointed and pulse survey reminder)

Date published: 8 June 2023

Welcome back after recess.

Our phone lines are closed for one day on Friday 9 June, due to staff training. They will reopen on Monday 12 June. If you have an urgent query please email us and use the word 'urgent' in the subject line.

This week's bulletin contains information on:

  • Payment card reminder

  • Members’ Service Team – Wales roadshow events

  • New Compliance Officer appointed

  • Pulse survey reminder

Payment Card reminder

Today is the payment card deadline for April 2023 expenditure and earlier to be reconciled and approved by our Validation team. 

Please let us know if you have any concerns about your payment card reconciliation or have been unable to meet this deadline so we can further support you.

Further details can be found in our Payment Card policy and in guidance on reconciling your payment card.

Members’ Service Team – Wales roadshow events

Next week, the House of Commons is hosting two roadshow events in Wales next week:

  • Wednesday 14 June – Cardiff, Cardiff City Hall

  • Thursday 15 June – Wrexham, Maesgwyn Hall

These events are an opportunity for MPs’ staff to engage with key services from the House of Commons including the Library, Training Team, and Members’ Services Team.

There will be talks delivered by IPSA and the Home Office. In addition, there will be networking opportunities throughout the event to enable you to connect with staff from local constituency offices.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

To register to attend please email MST@parliament.uk or call 020 7219 4141.

New Compliance Officer appointed

Brigadier Jonathon Blair-Tidewell has been appointed as the new Compliance Officer for IPSA, effective from Tuesday 30 May 2023. Jonathon replaces outgoing Compliance Officer Tracy Hawkings who has held the office since 2018.

Jonathon served for 26 years in the British Army, retiring in January 2021.

His final role was Assistant Chief of Staff (Personnel and Logistics) in the Permanent Joint Headquarters. He was responsible for the deployment, sustainment, and recovery of all UK military forces on operations worldwide. Before this, he commanded 102 Logistic Brigade, a 6,500-strong formation with elements based across the country.

Commissioned in 1995 after reading for a degree in Politics and Classics, Jonathon spent his early service as an infantry officer before specialising in logistics and personnel support. His operational experience includes tours in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Cyprus.

His staff experience includes appointments within the Ministry of Defence, Army Headquarters, and British Forces Cyprus. He is a graduate of the Pakistan Army Command and Staff College, and the UK’s Higher Command and Staff Course.

Read more about the work of the Compliance Officer.

Pulse survey

There's still time to give us your feedback about IPSA on the latest Pulse survey.

In particular, we are interested to hear your views about the data we publish about MPs' business costs.

We will carefully consider all your answers and comments.

Submit your response using our quick and easy online survey.

The survey will close on Friday 16 June at 23:59.