Technology News
- 1 May 2012, 16:04
MPs to be offered tax-funded iPads
MPs are to be offered taxpayer-funded iPads as part of moves to modernise Parliament, it has been revealed.
Politicians will be able to trade in one of their existing computers for a tablet under a pilot being run by the Commons authorities.
Select committee members will also be handed the fashionable devices - as long as they agree to receive documents electronically rather than in hard copy.
The ruling Commons Commission agreed that MPs "would be permitted to swap one of their current pieces of IT equipment for an iPad if they wished".
"The returned item of equipment would then be used to replace obsolete equipment used by staff in the House Service, thus reducing replacement costs by at least £50,000 (based on 100 MPs returning a laptop) and defraying the cost of the purchase of the iPad," according to a spokesman.
He added that the house would "offer iPads to members on those select committees which agreed to electronic delivery of documents and so reduce expenditure on paper and reprographics and improve environmental performance".
The cross-party committee decided to look more closely at potential savings from wider use of iPads by MPs.
what do you think?
Alan Bailey
how rediculous already over paid now we are giving them toys to play with who's idea was this, are we saying that they are over worked what they want is a real job then they may understand what we all have to put up with in the real world!!!!
Charles Wood
this comes under (bank manager bonus sceme) doesnt it? I have a friend who has had her money stopped altogther pending a tribunal, all grants for a representitive at the tribunal has been stopped. So not only has she had no money for the last 8 wks she cannot afford legal representitive for the tribunal? now they get new ipads? the rich get richer and the poor starve thought things had changed since Henry's time.
smile
Will any "Private Use" of these be charged on their tax returns a a benefit in kind for Tax, just as the rest of us are so tasked to return this info?
Stuart Harley
WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE NO SPARE CASH (10GILLION TO IMF ) AND SO WE GIVE MPS IPADS..........WHICH MOST WONT BE ABLE TO USE ANYWAY !!!
must havalook
Wonder if they will now give us 100% tax releif on computer items in first year along with no requirement to make allowance for personal use --- or even a grant all businesses to get them free Fraid not just the ususal parliament squandering money while all suffer but on the good side for them they will be able to conduct their "affairs" more easily and could publish email account details so papers could hack more easily
John Stedman
Oh come on. Let them buy their own and set it against taxable expenses like the businessman in the street has to. If they have managed so far without an iPad then there's obviously no demonstrable need for them to have one - unless they want a new toy (don't we all?).
Teresa Foster
more toys for little boys about time mp,s grew up and did the job they paid for
Nathan Martin
This is stupid they have top of the range stuff they are loaded why dont they pay for it their selves hows that gonna help the countrie develop by getting ipads computers will do and if they want an ipad they should by one themselves this is just takin advantage over tax payers money
Brian Luck
i Pads?.....Surely they are taking the p... Incontinence pads more like!
STEPHEN ROBINSON
How long before one is left on the train... In a hedge or in the pub. seriously its just another toy to be lost which no doubt will have our sensitive data on it ready for the world to see. I hope MP's will be charged for everyone they lose or fail to return when they are kicked out of office.
Christopher Hodson
4:05pm on 1/5/2012
Are they going to be restricted in what they see or do? How are they going to be monitored and restricted ? or are they going to claim parliamentary privalege. Is this just another source of data leakage about to happen. Oh, mylud it was my ipad and not me. hey want to restrict joe public on the internet so I would expect the same restrictions on them.