Police referrals
Dear Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority,
There have been recent reports that 5 MPs have had their expenses claims to the police and divided views over whether or not they should be identified. Rather than who they are, what information do you have on nature of the alleged transgressions themselves that have brought these referrals about?
Yours faithfully,
J Newman
Dear J Newman,
Thank you for your email of 7 February 2016.
Background
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is the body
responsible for administering and regulating the system of business costs
and expenses provided to MPs and their staff.
The [1]Compliance Officer for IPSA is an independent office-holder,
separate from IPSA, who is responsible for investigating claims that an MP
has been paid an amount by IPSA under the [2]MPs’ Scheme of Business Costs
and Expenses (‘the Scheme’) to which they were not entitled.
IPSA and the Compliance Officer are two separate public authorities for
the purposes of the FOIA, and information held by one body is not
necessarily held by the other.
A Joint Statement sets out how IPSA and the Compliance Officer will work
with the Metropolitan Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions in
the event that IPSA or the Compliance Officer are given reason to suspect
that a criminal offence may have been committed. A copy of this statement
can be viewed on the Compliance Officer’s website [3]via this link:
Where IPSA has reason to suspect a breach of the Scheme, a referral will
be made to the Compliance Officer. If the Compliance Officer has reason to
suspect a criminal offence may have been committed, his enquiries are
suspended and the Metropolitan Police are contacted. IPSA and the
Compliance Officer will then assist the appropriate police force with any
enquiries they undertake. Further, the police may receive complaints from
third-parties (such as members of the public); in such instances, IPSA may
be contacted to assist their enquiries.
Information already publicly available
The Compliance Officer publishes details of complaints received each
financial year, including the outcome of each complaint. This includes
complaints referred to the police, and provides a brief summary of the
complaint made. You can find this information on the Compliance Officer’s
website at the following address:
[4]http://www.parliamentarycompliance.org.u...
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can be of any
further assistance.
Kind regards,
Chris Veck
Freedom of Information Officer
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA)
4th Floor
30 Millbank
London, SW1P 4DU
Tel: 020 7811 6400
Email: [5][email address]
[6]www.parliamentarystandards.org.uk
Follow us on Twitter: [7]@ipsauk
Dear FOI,
My request related specifically to the cases under investigation currently (4 or 5 according to the press).
Can you please be more specific as to where in the link you have provided this information is available?
Yours sincerely,
J Newman
Dear J Newman,
The link provides details of all complaints handled by the Compliance
Officer each financial year. As reported in the Annual Report of the
Compliance Officer for IPSA 2014-15, four complaints (relating to three
MPs or their staff) were referred to the police in 2014-15. Brief details
relating to these complaints can be found within the tab for 'Complaints
handled in 2014-15'.
I hope this assists.
Kind regards,
Chris Veck
Freedom of Information Officer
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA)
4th Floor
30 Millbank
London, SW1P 4DU
Tel: 020 7811 6400
Email: [1][email address]
[2]www.parliamentarystandards.org.uk
Follow us on Twitter: [3]@ipsauk
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