Details of claims for television licences

IPSA holds the information that you request.

Under the Scheme of MPs’ Business Costs and Expenses (‘the Scheme’), claims may be made for the staffing and business costs by MPs or others, which are in support of the MP’s parliamentary functions.  Under the Scheme MPs may claim only for licences for television licences for their offices (not their residences).

The information that you have requested is published on our website, or is intended for future publication as part of our rolling publication schedule.

In the top right-hand corner, select the financial year you are interested in.  Then select the ‘individual claims’ spreadsheet from the drop-down menu, and download the spreadsheet.  This gives you access to the spreadsheet.  Specific categories of claims may be selected by using the filters on the top row or by searching the spreadsheet for specific terms.

Exemptions

Section 21 – Information reasonably accessible by other means

The Freedom of Information Act states that information that is accessible by other means is not subject to release.  Therefore, as the information you have requested is already available on our website, it is exempt from disclosure under section 21 of the Act (information accessible to applicant by other means).

Section 22 – Information intended for future publication

The Freedom of Information Act states that information that is intended for future publication is not subject to release unless early disclosure is in the public interest.

IPSA published information about MP’s expense claims on a rolling two monthly basis when Parliament is in session.

We have considered whether the public interest in releasing the information outweighs the application of the exemption.  It is our opinion that the public interest is best served by publishing a full list of all expenses rather than on an ad hoc basis, as in this way a clear and complete set of information is published, avoiding any potential confusion. It is for this reason that the application of the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure at this stage.

Therefore, as the information you have requested is already available on our website, it is exempt from disclosure under section 22 of the Act (information accessible to applicant by other means).

This concludes our response to your request.