Lay Member

Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority - House of Commons

IPSA

IPSA was established by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 as an independent authority responsible for both the regulation and administration of MPs' staffing and business costs and for paying the salaries of MPs and their staff. IPSA started operations at the General Election in May 2010, at which point it became responsible for the majority of MPs' business costs. Since 2011, IPSA has also had responsibility for setting MPs' pay and pensions.

IPSA has embarked on a programme of change, focusing on providing a higher-quality, more responsive service and a simpler regulatory framework which helps MPs and their staff do their work while commanding the confidence of the public. For more information about IPSA, see www.theipsa.org.uk.

The Speaker's Committee

The Speaker's Committee was established at the same time as the IPSA by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009.

The Speaker's Committee has two statutory functions:

• To agree IPSA's annual estimate of resources before it is agreed formally by the House of Commons; and
• To agree the Speaker's selection, on the basis of fair and open competition, of the chair and board members of IPSA before their approval by the House of Commons.

The Lay Members were added to the Committee as a result of a 2009 report on MPs' expenses and allowances by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL). The role of the lay member is to:

• Bring an external view to the deliberations of the Speaker's Committee, drawing on their experience from different walks of life;
• Reflect the growing practice in self-regulatory bodies to accept lay membership as a means of widening their horizon, increasing their experience base and strengthening their legitimacy with the public; and
• Promote greater transparency and independence in the Speaker's Committee's operations.

Appointments are for a non-renewable fixed term not exceeding five years. The current Lay Members are Peter Blausten, Tina Fahm and Theresa Middleton. The current recruitment is occasioned by the forthcoming departure of Peter Blausten at the end of his fixed term in January 2025.

In addition to the lay members, the Committee comprises:

• Three ex-officio members: the Speaker as Chair, the Leader of the House (Rt Hon. Lucy Powell MP) and the Chair of the Standards Committee (Alberto Costa MP); and
• Five MPs appointed by the House: currently Marie Goldman MP, Leigh Ingham MP, Gordon McKee MP, Charlotte Nichols MP and Rt Hon. Jesse Norman MP.

A message from the Speaker of the House of Commons

Thank you for your interest in applying to be a lay member of the Speaker's Committee for the IPSA (SCIPSA).

IPSA is the world's first fully independent regulator of MPs' financial remuneration. It regulates and administers the staffing and business costs and determines the pay of 650 elected MPs and administers the payroll of their 3,500 staff.

The Speaker's Committee has responsibilities clearly defined in statute in relation to the governance of IPSA. SCIPSA supports the recruitment of IPSA board members on merit and on the basis of fair and open competition. It also scrutinises and challenges the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of IPSA's funding requests.

The Lay Members play a vital part within this framework. They bring to the Committee their considerable knowledge and expertise in other fields. As full voting members of SCIPSA, they enhance the Committee's authority and bring an independent perspective to the Committee's work. Their contribution is greatly valued by me, by my fellow MPs on the Committee and by those across the House.

IPSA is currently in the middle of a transformation programme. Within this context, SCIPSA has an increasingly important role in ensuring IPSA discharges its functions effectively, balancing a strong regulatory framework with effective customer service, and in overseeing the appointment of talented people to the IPSA board. We are looking for a lay member who can bring their experience and expertise to help us in this work. Previous non executive experience is not essential.

The House of Commons is passionate about providing an environment which promotes inclusion, diversity and equality and I want to attract candidates from as wide a range of backgrounds as possible. Similarly, given the nature of IPSA's work supporting Members in constituencies throughout the United Kingdom, am keen to encourage applications from candidates from across the country.

I hope that, as you read the papers in this pack, you will see what a fascinating and crucial role the Lay Members play.

Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP

Speaker

Role specification

Purpose

Participate as a full voting member of the Speaker's Committee for IPSA, contributing an expert understanding and experience of public, private or not-for-profit sector management and governance.

Description of Duties

Expertly examine and as appropriate challenge:

• the proposed estimate of resources presented by the IPSA Board, and
• proposed appointments to the IPSA Board.

[As required, to sit on selection panels for appointments to the IPSA Board.]

Make judgments and decisions, taking into account:

• the operational needs of IPSA, the House and MPs;
• the statutory requirement for IPSA to have regard to the principles of efficiency, cost-effectiveness and transparency in carrying out its functions; and
• the accountability of IPSA and the House to the public.

Key Relationships:

• the Speaker;
• IPSA - in particular the Chair, board members, Chief Executive and senior managers;
• the Leader of the House of Commons;
• other Members of the Committee;
• other Lay Members of the Committee;
• other Members of the House of Commons; and
• staff of the Committee and the House's Scrutiny Unit, who assist the Committee in its scrutiny of IPSA's estimates.

Please find the full application pack for the Lay Member position .

Person specification

All candidates will be required to demonstrate in their written applications and at interview how they meet the requirements for the role. The criteria that will be used to assess whether candidates have the required knowledge, experience, skills and qualities are set out below. The panel is committed to seeking candidates who bring a breadth of personal and professional experience.

Essential criteria

All candidates will need to be able to demonstrate:

• An ability to command confidence that they will act with independence and integrity in a complex, politically sensitive or highly scrutinised environment, and to provide constructive challenge;
• An ability to communicate complex information succinctly in a fast-paced environment with authority, using influencing and interpersonal skills to support effective scrutiny;
• An ability to understand the needs of multiple diverse customer bases, and to manage relationships with diverse, complex or senior stakeholders;
• An ability to scrutinise a complex organisation effectively;
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion;
• And experience of one or more of the following:

Desirable criteria

• Regulatory experience, either as the regulator or the regulated community;
• Experience of delivering or overseeing organisational transformation;
• An understanding of Parliament and MPs.

Terms of Appointment

Remuneration/benefits

This is a remunerated non-executive position paying £300 per eight-hour day (proportionate to actual hours worked). Travel and other reasonable expenses will be paid.

Length of appointment and expected commitment

The appointment will be for a fixed term of five years. The appointment is not renewable. Since 2010, the Committee has met between two and four times per year at Westminster.

Lay members may also attend briefings by IPSA's senior management team at IPSA's offices in central London two to three times per year.

Time commitments are variable, and may be half rather than full days. Lay members may be involved in activities such as induction events, appointment boards and other contact with IPSA, as well as meetings of SCIPSA itself, and the pattern of these will vary from year to year. As a rough guide candidates should be willing to dedicate between three and eight days per year to the Speaker's Committee. The successful candidate would ideally be available to take up post from the end of February 2025.

Please find the full application pack for the Lay Member position .

Eligibility

Political activity

Individuals are ineligible for this role if they are current or former MPs or Peers (per the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010).

Lay members also need to show political impartiality during their time on the Committee and should not during their term of office undertake any party political activity.

Political activity includes:

• holding office in a party political organisation;
• speaking in public on matters of national or local political controversy;
• expressing views on political matters in the media or in books, articles or leaflets, or on social media sites;
• being a candidate for election to a local authority or Parliament;
• canvassing on behalf of a candidate for election to a local authority, Parliament or a political party;
• attending, in a member or delegate capacity, conferences or functions arranged by party political organisations;
• being involved in campaigning in a national referendum campaign.

It is appreciated that some candidates may well have undertaken political activity in the past. Candidates invited to interview will be asked to fill out a Political Activity Declaration form. At final interviews the panel may explore with candidates any potential conflicts of interests, or perceived conflicts.

It is appreciated that political activities may have given you relevant skills, including experience gained from committee work, collective decision making and resolving conflict. If, therefore, you have had such experience and you consider it relevant to your application for this post, you may if you choose refer to it in your application.

Valuing diversity, equality & fairness

The secretariat of the Speaker's Committee is part of the House of Commons Service.

The House of Commons Service recognises and values the diversity of its staff and is committed to developing working practices which will allow everyone to contribute his or her best, regardless of race, sex, marital status, religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or any other factor.

You will be required to comply with the Behaviour Code for Parliament and will be subject to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme.

In order to help the House monitor the success of its commitment to diversity and inclusion, all applicants are requested to complete a Diversity Monitoring Form. This form is used for monitoring purposes only and will not be made available to the selection panel

How to apply

To apply for this post, you are required to submit the following documentation to us by no later than 23:55 on Friday, 3 January 2025:

• A CV (maximum two pages) with your professional qualifications and full employment history, as well as any relevant unpaid or community achievements.
• A Supporting Statement (maximum 800 words) giving evidence of how you meet the role criteria in the person specification. Please provide specific examples to demonstrate how you meet the criteria.
• The names and contact details for two referees. These must be people who know you in a professional capacity to comment on your suitability for the post and will be expected to have authoritative and personal knowledge of your achievements. References will be taken by telephone for all candidates selected for final interview as soon as the interview arrangements have been made. Referees should be advised accordingly, please include their details in your CV.

As part of the application process, you will also be asked to complete the following:

• Diversity Monitoring form (provided on screen when you create your application). This form will not be disclosed to anyone involved in assessing your application.
• Candidates invited to interview will be asked to complete a financial and other interests declaration form. This may include any personal or financial interests (not covered by the political declaration below) which may reasonably have a bearing - or have the potential to be perceived to have a bearing - on your impartiality or objectivity. This may include paid and unpaid appointments, consultancy, trusteeships, directorships, advisory and voluntary roles. This may also include any financial connection that you or your close family members or associates have that may be connected to the work of the IPSA or SCIPSA. For these purposes an associate is defined as someone who is not a family member but with whom you have frequent or significant contact, or shared interests, and where a connection which is not disclosed might give rise to perceptions of a conflict of interest.
• Candidates invited to interview will also be asked to complete a political activity declaration form. All Committee members are required to conduct themselves so as not to raise any questions as to the impartiality of the Committee. In your application you are therefore asked to declare any political activity within the last 10 years, and any relevant interests.

Declaration of interests will not disqualify candidates from further consideration, and individuals who have been politically active should not be discouraged from applying. However, in the interests of full transparency, candidates are asked to disclose such interests, and candidates may be asked at interview how they would manage or mitigate any potential conflicts.

You do not need to declare voting in elections here; however, you should declare any holding of elective office, holding an office or membership of a political party, standing for election, campaigning activity, acting as a political agent, or any other activity which may reasonably be considered political, within the past 10 years.

If you would like to apply for this role, please apply via the Nurole Application Portal HERE.

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