Thank you for taking the time to contact me on this issue.
Since 2010 responsibility for deciding the salaries and expenses of Members of Parliament has rested with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). MPs do not set their own pay or the amounts that are made available to them to carry out their public responsibilities, such as staffing and office costs. In my view it is right that these decisions are made independently from Parliament.
IPSA benchmark MPs proposed pay by reference to an external and independent measure, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) Average Weekly Earnings figure reflecting changes in public sector earnings for the period ahead. In other words, MPs pay only rises if average weekly earnings in the public sector also rise. Members of the public can make their views known to IPSA on this method or on any issues related to MPs pay by contacting them at info@theIPSA.org.uk
Like many people I support charitable causes, this support is a private matter which is unrelated to my role in public office and therefore I do not disclose details of it.