Staffing arrangements of Nigel Evans

We can confirm that IPSA holds the information that you request, in relation to the first and third parts of your request.

Nigel Evans currently employs five members of staff through the IPSA payroll, across his constituency and Westminster offices, of whom two are female and three are male.

According to our records, Mr Evans has registered one volunteer with IPSA since May 2010, who was male.

In relation to the second part of your request, in IPSA’s view, the information you have requested is exempt under section 40 (personal information) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), as confirming whether a specific individual currently works or has ever worked in an MP’s office constitutes personal data.  Under section 40(5) of the FOIA, we are therefore unable to confirm or deny whether or not we hold the information you have requested. 

Further, in relation to the first part of your request, it is our view that disclosing the start dates of individuals employed by Mr Evans is also exempt under section 40 (personal information) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Section 40(2) provides that personal data about third parties is exempt information if one of the conditions set out in section 40(3) is satisfied. Under the FOI Act disclosure of this information would breach the fair processing principle (Principle 1) of the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA), where it would be unfair to those persons or is confidential. For further information, you may wish to visit the UK Legislation website.