This is our main page for the 2015 Dissolution of Parliament. As information about the arrangements arrives, we will post it here or create links to more detailed information, on the public Parliament website, on the Parliamentary intranet and on the IPSA website. If you want to know more generally about how dissolution will affect you, please see our general information page.
We strongly recommend that you download the Dissolution Guide in PDF format so that you can refer to it during the dissolution period.
MP Hotlines: to the best of our knowledge, candidates will be able to contact some hotlines in the usual manner. However, they must provide written proof of consent to act, otherwise all replies will be sent directly to the constituents and not to the candidates. We will let you know more as soon as we have the information.
HMRC’s guidance on casework is:
- After Parliament is dissolved all HMRC replies and enquiries co-ordinated by the Ministerial Correspondence Team will be sent to the constituent directly – the MP no longer being able to act for their constituent
- Ministerial Correspondence is drafting a new acknowledgment template to inform the MP we will reply to the constituent during this period
UKVI’s guidance on casework is:
- UK Visas and Immigration – during the pre-election period from 30 March, enquiries from parliamentary candidates should be submitted in writing to mpcorrespondence@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or Central Point of Receipt, PO Box 1586, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 2XZ. All enquiries about individual cases should be accompanied by a written authorisation to act on behalf of the constituent. MP phone lines will be closed.
IPSA Guidance on Dissolution
There is some guidance on the Parliamentary intranet here, and more detailed guidance on the IPSA website here, which should give you all of the information you need to know. There are also two downloadable booklets in PDF format:
- IPSA General Election Guidance for MPs
- Campaign activities: further guidance for MPs on claims, repayments for office costs and adjustments to staff pay
- How to stay within the IPSA rules during the election period – A guide for MPs
The Parliamentary intranet has a section on dissolution and you can find its home page here: Dissolution Guidance. This page links to information for Members who are standing at the General Election, Members who are not standing at the General Election and for Members’ staff:
Information for all Members and their staff:
- Settling House of Commons accounts
- Online Presence (including websites and social media)
- ICT equipment, support and internet access
- Telephones, voicemail and messages
- Casework and correspondence
- House of Commons and PICT services
Information for staff of Members not standing at the General Election:
- Redundancy procedures
- Notice period and pension
- Parliamentary ICT and related services
- Accommodation in Westminster and returning passes and permits
- Casework and data protection
- Useful checklist
Information for staff of Members’ standing at the General Election:
- Access to the Parliamentary Network and email
- ICT support
- Accommodation in Westminster
- Useful checklist
Information for staff of Members not returned at the General Election:
- Help from the House Service
- Redundancy procedures
- Pensions
- Parliamentary ICT and related services
- Accommodation in Westminster and other facilities
- Data protection and handling casework and records
- Useful checklist
Further guidance, aimed at Members can be found on the intranet here:
Dissolution guidance: members standing at the general election includes:
During dissolution: Settling House bills, Parliamentary ICT and related services, Your online presence, Telephones, Accommodation in Westminster, Car park, Dealing with casework, Stationery and correspondence, Journalists
House services: Personnel Advice Service (PAS), Vote Office, House of Commons Shop, Chamber and committee services, Information services, Gymnasium, Room bookings, gallery tickets, tours and exhibitions, Travel Office, Nursery, Catering Facilities, Parliamentary Recording Unit
Members not returned at the General Election: Additional information if you are not returned at the General Election, Redundancy procedures for your staff, Pensions, Parliamentary ICT and related services, Telephone services and mobile devices, Accommodation in Westminster and other facilities, Data protection and handling casework and records, The Association of Former Members of Parliament
Dissolution Guidance: Members not standing at the General Election includes:
Finances and staff: IPSA General Election guidance for Members, Redundancy procedures for Members’ staff, Pensions, Sums owing to the House of Commons
Other information: Your online presence, The Association of Former Members of Parliament, Journalists,
Casework and records: Data protection and handling casework and records, Stationery and correspondence
Parliamentary ICT and related services: ICT equipment, Access to the Parliamentary Network, email and internet, Telephones, voicemail and mobile devices, ICT support
The Parliamentary Estate: Access to your office and vacating it, Gallery tickets, tours and exhibitions, House of Commons and PICT services, Post, Car park, Former Members’ security pass