Members Estimate Committee - role

The MEC, which has the same membership as the House of Commons Commission, was established under Standing Order 153D to provide oversight of the House of Commons Members Estimate.  The scope of the Members Estimate was significantly reduced following the 2010 General Election when responsibility for the administration of Members’ salaries, expenses claims, travel and certain other costs were transferred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).  Items still within the ambit of the Estimate include:

• the Exchequer contribution towards the cost of pensions for Members of Parliament;
• the provision of ICT equipment to Members;
• financial assistance to Opposition parties (Short Money);
• an Exchequer contribution to the Members’ Fund;
• provision of some training for Members and their staff; and
• payment for insurance.

The functions of the MEC include codifying and keeping under review the provisions of the Resolutions of the House relating to expenditure charged to the Members Estimate, and modifying those provisions in the interests of clarity, consistency, accountability and effective administration, and conformity with current circumstances.  The Committee is not empowered to create a new form of charge on the Estimate, or to increase any rate of charge or payment determined by Resolution of the House.  A consolidated list of the Resolutions of the House relating to expenditure charged to the Estimate as at 1 April 2009 was published by the MEC in 2009 (HC281).

More information on the Members Estimate and the role of the MEC is available from the annual accounts.