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Commons due to publish expenses MP expenses to be released to all
(1 day later)
Detailed breakdowns of expenses claimed by 14 politicians are to be released by the Commons, after it lost a three-year Freedom of Information battle.Detailed breakdowns of expenses claimed by 14 politicians are to be released by the Commons, after it lost a three-year Freedom of Information battle.
The information, including receipts to back up claims, will be handed over to the Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Times and campaigner Heather Brooke on Friday. The details will be released to all media, not just the reporters who made the FOI requests as originally planned.
The High Court said the claims made under MPs' second homes allowance, must be handed over by 1600 BST on Friday. The Commons said it had decided to make the information, which includes receipts to back up claims, more widely available due to public interest.
But some MPs are unhappy that their addresses will also be published. The High Court said the claims must be handed over by 1600 BST on Friday.
MPs expenses are published every year under nine main headings - including the additional costs allowance (ACA) to cover the costs of running a second home. MPs' expenses are published every year under nine main headings - including the additional costs allowance (ACA) to cover the costs of running a second home.
'Unsatisfactory''Unsatisfactory'
But for most only the total claimed is published, rather than a detailed breakdown showing what items had been claimed for.But for most only the total claimed is published, rather than a detailed breakdown showing what items had been claimed for.
Campaigners argued that the limited nature of checks on claims, many of which did not require a receipt, meant the system was open to abuse and an Information Tribunal agreed it was "deeply unsatisfactory".Campaigners argued that the limited nature of checks on claims, many of which did not require a receipt, meant the system was open to abuse and an Information Tribunal agreed it was "deeply unsatisfactory".
We also ensure that the protection needed for members to speak out in this house remains Harriet HarmanCommons leader
Last week the High Court backed the tribunal's ruling that details should be published and on Monday the Commons gave up its legal fight.Last week the High Court backed the tribunal's ruling that details should be published and on Monday the Commons gave up its legal fight.
Commons leader Harriet Harman confirmed on Thursday that details of the claims made in 2005 by 14 prominent politicians, including Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Sir Menzies Campbell, would be handed to the three who requested the information. The claims at issue were made in 2005 by 14 prominent politicians, including Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Sir Menzies Campbell.
And she said home addresses would be published but "subject to individual consideration of security issues". A detailed breakdown of the expenses of all MPs dating back to 2004 - likely to run to more than a million items - is due to be released in the autumn and in future the information will be released on a quarterly basis.
The MPs' home addresses will be published unless there is a specific concern about individual security.
Stalker threatStalker threat
She told MPs she was determined MPs should be able to speak freely in the Commons "on controversial issues without looking over their shoulder".
The High Court had ruled that MPs' addresses should be published - pointing out they were already disclosed when MPs sought nomination for election and if someone was determined to discover it, they were likely to be able to do so.The High Court had ruled that MPs' addresses should be published - pointing out they were already disclosed when MPs sought nomination for election and if someone was determined to discover it, they were likely to be able to do so.
Heather Brooke is among those who have campaigned for the details
The Tribunal had ruled however that addresses of MPs who had a good reason - for example a known stalker, terrorist or "other criminal threat" - could remain private.The Tribunal had ruled however that addresses of MPs who had a good reason - for example a known stalker, terrorist or "other criminal threat" - could remain private.
Ms Harman told MPs: "We are considering further how we can be sure that the money for members' London homes is properly spent, that we give out information about expenses that the public is entitled to. But some MPs are angry that their home addresses will be published.
"But we also ensure that the protection needed for members to speak out in this house remains."
Judges' addresses
Meanwhile Liberal Democrat MP Bob Russell has tabled a motion calling for a breakdown of the expenses of, and home addresses of, High Court judges.Meanwhile Liberal Democrat MP Bob Russell has tabled a motion calling for a breakdown of the expenses of, and home addresses of, High Court judges.
Labour MP David Winnick, a campaigner for Parliamentary transparency, said MPs needed to do more to explain why allowances were claimed.Labour MP David Winnick, a campaigner for Parliamentary transparency, said MPs needed to do more to explain why allowances were claimed.
Conservative MP Julian Lewis said he was baffled about the ruling on publishing addresses and said MPs should be able to enjoy the "same degree of privacy and security that any other citizen is entitled to enjoy". Conservative MP Julian Lewis branded the plan to release MPs' addresses "barking mad" - and he hit back at the High Court's ruling by saying it should be made as difficult as possible to discover where they live.
The Commons is expected to publish all MPs' ACA claims - thought to total about one million items - in the autumn. 'Anthrax letters'
Judges' addresses are kept secret to protect them from reprisals by criminals they have jailed - but Mr Lewis argued MPs should be entitled to the same protection.
He said letters to MPs in the Commons were security vetted - but publishing their home addresses would leave them vulnerable to hate mail and attacks by "extremists".
In a Commons debate on Thursday, he suggested a novel way someone could highlight the alleged dangers.
He told MPs: "I would buy myself a very large packet of white soap powder, I would then buy 646 envelopes and I would place a quantity of this soap powder in each of the envelopes and I would send it to the 646 private home addresses together with a little note in each saying 'Ha ha, you've just opened a packet of anthrax'."
MPs can claim up to £23,000 a year to spend on costs incurred while staying away from their main home - including televisions, rent or mortgage payments and up to £400 a month for food.MPs can claim up to £23,000 a year to spend on costs incurred while staying away from their main home - including televisions, rent or mortgage payments and up to £400 a month for food.
The Commons is conducting its own inquiry into MPs' pay and expenses.The Commons is conducting its own inquiry into MPs' pay and expenses.