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Commons loses MPs' expenses fight | Commons loses MPs' expenses fight |
(19 minutes later) | |
The House of Commons has lost its High Court battle over an information watchdog's decision to force disclosure of MPs' expenses. | The House of Commons has lost its High Court battle over an information watchdog's decision to force disclosure of MPs' expenses. |
The Commons challenged the Information Tribunal's "unlawfully intrusive" demand that a detailed breakdown of second home allowances must be given. | The Commons challenged the Information Tribunal's "unlawfully intrusive" demand that a detailed breakdown of second home allowances must be given. |
It also tried to overturn the tribunal's decision that MPs' addresses should be published. | |
It is now expected to appeal against the High Court ruling. | |
The Freedom of Information request at the centre of the case relates to 14 MPs and former MPs, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown. | |
'Public eye' | |
The Commons authorities argued that MPs' addresses should be kept secret on security grounds. | |
But this was rejected by the High Court, which said such information was already in the public domain. | |
In its ruling, the High Court said: "An individual who is determined to discover the residential address of an adult, law-abiding citizen is likely to be able to do so by one legal means or another. | |
"And where the person concerned is a holder of public office and in the public eye, an inquiry is likely to be easier." | |
The Commons members' estimates committee is to meet on Tuesday to decide whether to launch an appeal. | |
Under their "additional costs allowance", MPs can claim up to £23,000 a year towards the cost of maintaining a second residence, normally in their constituency. | |
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 the additional costs allowances of 14 MPs and former MPs 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. | |
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. | |
Commons Speaker Michael Martin was himself 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". |