How much money has been repaid by Margaret Moran

Dear Mr Batley

Thank you for your request for information dated 14 June received by us on
15 June 2009, which is copied below.

We will respond to your request promptly and within 20 working days, i.e.
on or before 13 July 2009.

Yours sincerely,

______________________________________________________________________

Brenda Brevitt

Project Officer

FOI, Department of Resources

House of Commons

P Please consider the environment before printing

Dear Sir or Madam,

Luton South MP Margaret Moran has stated she will pay back some of

the money she claimed for expenses. Please can you tell me how much

money has been received by the House of Commons so far?

Yours faithfully,

David Batley

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/about...
2. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/contact

Dear Mr Batley,

Thank you for your request for information. I am sorry for the delay but
we have been unable to complete a response to your request by the intended
deadline of 13 July 2009. It is being considered as a matter of priority
and will be responded to as soon as possible. Details of how to make a
complaint about the handling of your request will follow with the
response.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Castle

Head of Information Rights and Information Security

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Batley,

Thank you for your request for information which is copied below.

I am sorry that our response is late. However, we needed to give full
consideration to the disclosure of any information about the Additional
Costs Allowance (second homes allowance) given the ongoing audit of all
claims made against that allowance.

An independent study led by Sir Thomas Legg is being made of all claims
made against the second homes allowance. A report of the inquiry will be
presented to the House in the Autumn. The terms of reference of the
inquiry include:

* To examine all payments made on such claims, against the rules
and standards in force at the time, and identify any which should not
have been made, and any claims which otherwise call for comment;
* To allow Members who received such payments or made such claims
a fair opportunity to make representations about them;
* Subject to any such representations, to recommend where
necessary any repayments which Members should make and otherwise to
comment as seems appropriate; and
* To report as soon as possible to the Members Estimate Committee

In relation to FOI requests concerning specific ACA claims, the House
considers that confirmation or denial of whether or not the information
is held (and the provision of data where held) would be unfair as
disclosure to the public generally would be likely to result in trial by
media. During Sir Thomas Legg's inquiry, it would be unfair on the MPs
concerned to have to deal both with media speculation on such
disclosures and with presenting their cases or points of view to the
inquiry and there is no guarantee that their representations in response
to the media would be heard or published.

Having considered your request we have concluded that until the Legg
inquiry has been finalised the exemption set out in section
40(5)(b)(i)of the FOI ACT applies. This exemption releases public
authorities from the obligation to confirm or deny whether or not
information is held when this action would not be consistent with the
data protection principles, in particular the fairness with which data
is processed Therefore your request is refused. This is an absolute
exemption and the public interest test does not apply.

In addition, in refusing to confirm or deny whether or not information
relevant to your request is held, the House relies on the provisions set
out in section 31(3) of the FOI Act. This exemption releases public
authorities from the obligation to confirm or deny whether or not
information is held when this action would be prejudicial to the conduct
of investigative proceedings. There is a public interest in the
transparency of the allowances system. However, while inquiries are
progressing, the House considers that the public interest in maintaining
the fairness of the inquiry and therefore the exemption must prevail.

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 Resources, House of Commons London
SW1 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

Katarina Ndrepepaj
Freedom of Information and Resources Coordinator

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Batley

Thank you for your request for information dated 10th November, received by us on the same day, which is copied below.

We will endeavour to respond to your request promptly but in any case within 20 working days i.e on or before 8th December 2009.
If you have any queries about your request, please use the request number quoted in the subject line of this email.

Yours sincerely

Vanessa Cubillo
Freedom of Information Assistant

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Batley,

Thank you for your email. The report by Sir Thomas Legg has not been published yet, therefore our previous response stands.

Yours sincerely

Bob Castle
Head of information rights and information Security

show quoted sections