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Ruling due in MPs' expenses fight |
Commons loses MPs' expenses fight |
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(about 2 hours later)
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The High Court will decide later whether MPs can keep details of their second home expenses private. | The House of Commons has lost its High Court battle over an information watchdog's decision to force disclosure of MPs' expenses. |
Under their "additional costs allowance", MPs can claim up to £23,000 a year towards a second residence. | The Commons challenged the Information Tribunal's "unlawfully intrusive" demand that a detailed breakdown of second home allowances must be given. |
In January, 14 MPs, including Gordon Brown, were told to disclose details and addresses of those homes. | The Commons also attempted to overturn the Tribunal's decision that MPs' addresses should be disclosed. |
But a group led by Commons Speaker Michael Martin challenged the ruling, arguing that publishing MPs' addresses could be a security risk. | But the challenge was dismissed earlier by the High Court. |
The allowance covers expenditure incurred when an MP is away from home on parliamentary duties, such as the cost of furniture and household bills. | |
'John Lewis list' | |
The original demand for a detailed breakdown of MPs' additional costs allowances was made under the Freedom of Information Act. | |
The Information Tribunal said the breakdown should be given, but the battle was then taken to the High Court by the Commons Commission. | |
Friday's ruling may not be the end of the matter, as both sides are free to appeal against it. | |
MPs were criticised when the so-called "John Lewis list" of household items was published earlier this year. | |
All of them could be bought using the second home allowance, and included £10,000 kitchens and £6,000 bathrooms. | |
The Speaker himself was criticised when it emerged that his wife had claimed £4,139 on taxis - largely for shopping trips. | |
But on Wednesday, Parliament's standards chief John Lyon ruled Mary Martin's claims were "reasonable". | |
