Claims submitted by Paul Maynard, MP
Request
Please provide me with as much information in regards to the following Office Costs expense claims as possible. A copy of the claim invoice should suffice. [Maynard} Parliamentary ID Year Date Claim Number 3926 22_23 18/07/2022 60145102-7 3926 22_23 26/05/2022 60134136-1 3926 21_22 01/09/2021 60103282-1 3926 21_22 22/06/2021 60092944-3 3926 21_22 09/04/2021 60080340-3 3926 20_21 25/11/2020 60067029-1 3926 20_21 15/06/2020 60049938-1 3926 19_20 20/02/2020 60054344-3 3926 19_20 24/10/2019 60024265-1 3926 19_20 14/10/2019 60022861-2 3926 19_20 14/10/2019 60022861-3 3926 19_20 14/10/2019 60022861-1 3926 19_20 13/05/2019 60002939-1 3926 19_20 13/05/2019 60014658-1 3926 19_20 03/04/2019 60007991-1 3926 18_19 21/02/2019 716431 3926 18_19 21/02/2019 716431 3926 18_19 23/11/2018 695298 3926 18_19 23/11/2018 695298 . 3926 18_19 28/09/2018 682598 3926 18_19 22/05/2018 661644 3926 18_19 10/05/2018 661644 3926 18_19 03/05/2018 661644 3926 18_19 18/04/2018 654448
Parliamentary ID Year Date Claim Number 3926 17_18 22/06/2017 594961 3926 17_18 09/10/2017 615355 3926 17_18 30/11/2017 627927 3926 17_18 26/06/2017 594961 3926 17_18 12/05/2017 583022 3926 17_18 12/05/2017 583022 3926 18_19 13/07/2018 672032 3926 18_19 13/07/2018 672032 3926 18_19 13/07/2018 672032 3926 22_23 22/08/2022 60148382-1 3926 22_23 22/08/2022 60148382-3 3926 22_23 18/07/2022 60145102-3 3926 22_23 20/06/2022 60141040-1 3926 22_23 25/05/2022 60137898-3 3926 21_22 21/01/2022 60119409-2 3926 21_22 19/11/2021 60111590-1
Response
I can confirm that we hold the information relevant to your requests.
Some information has been redacted and is subject to a refusal notice under sections 31, 38 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 banking details and other transactional references. 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 at this time.
Section 38(1)(b) – health and safety
This exemption applies where disclosure of information would, or would be likely to, endanger the safety of any individual. IPSA relies on this exemption to withhold any information which could identify accommodation used by MPs and their staff. IPSA maintains that the disclosure of this information carries a high risk of endangering the MP and his staff. There has been an increase in media reporting on the threats made to MPs and their staff. Not all reports relate to physical attacks on MPs and their staff, but the fear which can be felt from receiving a threat can be mentally and physically damaging.
MPs and their staff have difficult jobs, and IPSA is aware that the decision to disclose certain categories of information could make it more difficult for them to fulfil these. IPSA, therefore, maintains that the public interest in withholding this information outweighs the public interest in disclosure at this time.
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-202305-23, RFI-202305-24 and RFI-202305-25
- Disclosure:
- 27 June 2023
- Categories:
- COPIES OF RECEIPTS/INVOICES
- Exemptions Applied:
- Section 31(1)(a), Section 38(1)(b), Sections 40(2) and 40(3A)(a)