Investigation into claims made by Johnny Mercer MP concluded

Date published: 23 January 2019

The Compliance Officer for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has today published a Closure Report relating to her investigation into claims made under the MPs’ Scheme of Business Costs and Expenses (‘the Scheme’) by Mr Johnny Mercer MP.

The Closure Report can be found in the Open and Closed Investigations section of the website.

On 28 November 2017, following receipt of complaints from two members of the public, the Compliance Officer opened an investigation into claims submitted by Mr Johnny Mercer MP.

The scope of the investigation was to consider:

  • Office Costs in respect of website use and other ‘e-presence’, telephony costs and use of domain names.

Following the investigation, the Compliance Officer found that Mr Mercer was required to reimburse IPSA the total sum of £931.20 in respect of telephony costs.

Mr Mercer has repaid the amount of £931.20 in full.

No further action is required by Mr Mercer or the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and the investigation is now closed.

Notes to Editors

  1. The Compliance Officer for IPSA is an independent office holder established as a separate public authority from IPSA under the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, as amended by the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. He is responsible for investigating complaints regarding MPs' business costs and expenses paid to MPs by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority ('IPSA').

  2. The Procedures for Investigations of the Compliance Officer for IPSA (Third Edition) can be found on the Compliance Officer’s website.

  3. As the MP accepted the Statement of Provisional Findings and repaid the amount in full, and no further representations were received by either party, the Compliance Officer is not required to publish a Statement of Findings.

  4. The MPs' Scheme of Business Costs and Expenses can be found on IPSA's website.

  5. IPSA’s Press Office – 020 7811 6462​.