To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.

Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Members: Allowances
Thursday 11th September 2025

Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Warrington North, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what recent assessment she has made of levels of public confidence in the administration of hon. Members' business costs since the general election.

Answered by Charlotte Nichols

The Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (SCIPSA) is a statutory body whose role is defined by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, as amended by the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The Committee reviews the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA)'s annual estimate of the resources it needs, in order to ensure the estimate is consistant with the efficient and cost-effective discharge of IPSA's functions, before the estimate is laid before the House by the Speaker.

It is not part of the Committee's statutory role to quantify public confidance in the work of IPSA; the publicly available data does not distinguish between administration of business costs by IPSA and public attitudes towards Members of Parliament, the way they perform their duties or the wider self-regulatory system relating to the conduct of Members.

However, data held by IPSA shows that the volume of complaints received in the three months following the 2024 General Election from members of the public regarding business costs decreased by 56 per cent compared to the three months prior to polling day.

Division Vote (Commons)
10 Sep 2025 - Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Peter Bedford (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 87 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 158 Noes - 297
Division Vote (Commons)
10 Sep 2025 - Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Peter Bedford (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 85 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 92 Noes - 364
Division Vote (Commons)
10 Sep 2025 - Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Peter Bedford (Con) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 85 Conservative No votes vs 0 Conservative Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 362 Noes - 87
Division Vote (Commons)
10 Sep 2025 - Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Peter Bedford (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 86 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 153 Noes - 300
Written Question
Actuaries: Regulation
Wednesday 10th September 2025

Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the actuarial regulation elements of the Government’s planned Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government will bring forward Audit Reform and Corporate Governance legislation when Parliamentary time allows. The government will set out further details in the autumn.

Speech in Public Bill Committees - Tue 09 Sep 2025
Pension Schemes Bill (Fifth sitting)

"I trust the pensions industry to make those judgments because they are the experts in this area, not Government Ministers, who often have short-term views. On Second Reading, one of my hon. Friends raised the example of HS2 and how Government priorities and policies can change over time. Would the …..."
Peter Bedford - View Speech

View all Peter Bedford (Con - Mid Leicestershire) contributions to the debate on: Pension Schemes Bill (Fifth sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Tue 09 Sep 2025
Pension Schemes Bill (Fifth sitting)

"I hope to address some of those points.

The Government are willing to take investment decisions out of the hands of pension fund trustees to force investments into projects that may be politically convenient for them, but may potentially lead to financial loss for members. They are directing investment on …..."
Peter Bedford - View Speech

View all Peter Bedford (Con - Mid Leicestershire) contributions to the debate on: Pension Schemes Bill (Fifth sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Tue 09 Sep 2025
Pension Schemes Bill (Fifth sitting)

"I will come on to some of those points later, so I will address them then...."
Peter Bedford - View Speech

View all Peter Bedford (Con - Mid Leicestershire) contributions to the debate on: Pension Schemes Bill (Fifth sitting)
Speech in Public Bill Committees - Tue 09 Sep 2025
Pension Schemes Bill (Fifth sitting)

"I refer the Committee to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, having worked in the water sector before being elected to Parliament. I will be speaking predominantly to amendment 248. The Committee heard evidence from industry experts who expressed concerns about the Bill’s mandation power. They were …..."
Peter Bedford - View Speech

View all Peter Bedford (Con - Mid Leicestershire) contributions to the debate on: Pension Schemes Bill (Fifth sitting)