Copy of receipt for claim by Rob Butler, MP
Request
Under an FOI request could you please provide a copy of the receipt/invoice provided on claim number 60110604-6.
Response
I can confirm that we hold information relevant to your request. A copy of the receipt for claim reference 60110604-6 is attached.
Following the brutal murder of Sir David Amess MP at his constituency surgery last year, MPs received a wide range of advice and suggestions on ways to improve their security. This came from the Police, Parliamentary Security advisors and other agencies. One recommendation was for visitors to surgeries to be asked to remove coats and leave them with bags outside the room where they were meeting the MP. As there were no cloakroom facilities in the constituency office, this coat stand was purchased for that purpose.
Some information has been redacted and is subject to a refusal notice under sections 31 and 40 of the FOIA, and in accordance with Section C of IPSA’s Publication Policy.
Section 31(1)(a) – law enforcement
This exemption applies where the disclosure of information would or would be likely to prejudice the prevention of crime. IPSA relies on this exemption to withhold the banking details of suppliers and the MP.
IPSA believes that the disclosure of these details could leave those concerned more vulnerable to financial crime, in particular fraud and electronic crime, especially with the increase in cyber-attacks.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. IPSA does not consider that the withholding of this information has a negative impact on the understanding of these claims.
We, therefore, find that the public interest in withholding this information outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
Sections 40(2) and 40(3A)(a) – personal data
This exemption applies to information which IPSA considers to be personal data within the meaning of Article 4(1) of the UK General Data Protection Regulation 2016 (UK GDPR) which states:
‘personal data’ means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (‘data subject’); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly.
IPSA considered that the following are personal data within this definition: names of MPs’ staff members and details about their employment with MPs. We then considered whether disclosure of this personal data would breach any of the Principles relating to the processing of personal data in the UK GDPR.
The relevant principle falls at Article 5(1)(a),
Personal data shall be:
a. Processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject
As IPSA was unable to find a lawful basis on which it could rely, within Article 6 of the UK GDPR, it therefore finds that the information is exempt under section 40.
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- Ref:
- RFI-202207-18
- Disclosure:
- 26 August 2022
- Categories:
- COPIES OF RECEIPTS/INVOICESMPs' OFFICE COSTS
- Exemptions Applied:
- Section 31(1)(a), Sections 40(2) and 40(3A)(a)