Access to the Commons

Dear Mr Leaton

Thank you for your request for information dated 12 April 2011, received by us on the same date.

We will endeavour to respond to your request promptly but in any case within 20 working days i.e. on or before 16 May 2011.

If you have any queries about your request, please use the request number quoted at the top of this letter.

Yours sincerely

Jenny Wormleighton | IRIS Support Officer
Information Rights and Information Security (IRIS) Service | Department of Resources
| House of Commons

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Dear Mr Leaton,

Thank you for your request for information which is copied below. In response to your questions:

There is an electronic access control system in use on the Parliamentary Estate. When someone arrives without their pass, it is recorded. A temporary proximity pass is issued which invalidates the permanent pass for the necessary period.

Records are retained for up to three years as part of our Data Retention Policy.

You may, if dissatisfied with the treatment of your request, ask the House of Commons to conduct an internal review of this decision. Requests for internal review should be addressed to: Freedom of Information Officer, Department of HR and Change, House of Commons London SW1A OAA or [House of Commons request email] . Please ensure that you specify the nature of your complaint and any arguments or points that you wish to make.

If you remain dissatisfied, you may appeal to the Information Commissioner at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Bob Castle
Head of Information Rights and Information Security House of Commons

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Dear Mr Leaton

This information has been provided to you before. I refer you to previous responses to you made by both the House of Commons and House of Lords (the latter in April and May this year), for example

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/39...

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/us...

Yours sincerely

Bob Castle
Head of Information Rights and Information Security
House of Commons

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Dear Mr Leaton

Please clarify what is it you want reviewed - a full and timely response to your request (our ref F11-120) was provided

You asked:

When someone turns up without their pass, is it recorded that they
have turned up, before being given access.

Are they given temporary passes?

How far back do such records go?

A full answer was provided including the retention period of three years, nothing was refused and no part of the request met a not held response.

You asked a follow up question:

... if MPs or other can get into the
Parliamentary estate without having their arrival recorded or not?

We pointed out that his had been answered before - yes, the electronic system does not operate at all entry points.

Yours sincerely

Bob Castle
Head of Information Rights and Information Security
House of Commons

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Dear Mr Leaton

We are perfectly willing to undertake a review. However, I am not at this stage going to ask anyone to review this because what they should be reviewing is unclear - the response was timely, your questions were answered and no exemptions or denials were applied.

As stated in our response to your request, if you would like a review of our response to you, you might assist this process by specifying the nature of your complaint and by providing the points that you would like the reviewer to take into account.

If you are unwilling to assist the process of review in this way, can I suggest that you take your complaint directly to the Information Commissioner?

Yours sincerely

Bob Castle
Head of Information Rights and Information Security
House of Commons

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