Dear Mr Webber,

Freedom of Information request F17-539

Thank you for your request for information dated 7 December 2017, received
by us on the same date, 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 9 January 2018.

If you have any queries about your request, please use the request number
quoted above and in the subject line of this email.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Price

IRIS Support Officer
Information Rights and Information Security (IRIS) Service | House of
Commons

[1]cid:image002.jpg@01D02B64.34D76640

Click [2]here for details about Freedom of Information

in the House of Commons and to see what we publish.

From: G Webber [mailto:[FOI #451141 email]]
Sent: 07 December 2017 14:01
To: FOI Commons <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Brexit impact assessments:
reading room

Dear House of Commons

A letter to all MPs and Peers from Robin Walker MP, dated 4 December,
states that the reading room which has been set up for viewing of the
Brexit impact assessments was “arranged in consultation with the
Parliamentary Authorities in both Houses”.

Please can you provide me with an electronic copy of all recorded
information you hold regarding the provision of this reading room (I am
not interested in the wider proceedings regarding the impact assessments;
only the reading room).

The letter goes on to say that these arrangements are “in keeping with the
arrangements for previous reading rooms”.

If it would not exceed the cost threshold after you have complied with the
first part of my request (above), please provide me with an electronic
copy of all information you hold regarding the provision of previous
reading rooms.

Best wishes
Gabriel

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[3][FOI #451141 email]

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Information requests to House of Commons? If so, please contact us using
this form:
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For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
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[7]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Webber,

Freedom of Information Request F17-539

Thank you for your request for information as copied below.  With
reference to a letter to all MPs and Peers from Robin Walker MP, dated 4
December 2017, you asked for an electronic copy of all recorded
information we hold regarding the provision of this reading room.

This reading room has been provided by the Government in one of their
buildings, and is not located on the parliamentary estate.  However, the
House of Commons holds a short series of emails between the House of
Commons and the Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU) where this matter is
discussed. These emails are attached.

Please note that the personal data of DExEU staff has been redacted from
this material.  This information is exempt by virtue of section 40 (2) of
the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), as disclosure of this
information to the public generally, in the House’s view, would not be
consistent with data protection principles in the Data Protection Act 1998
(DPA). This is an absolute exemption and the public interest test does not
apply.

In addition, details about the specific location of the reading room has
also been redacted from these emails. This is in accordance with the
following exemptions under the FOIA:

Section 24(1) National security

The House considers the disclosure of these details to be a risk to
national security, therefore the redacted information is exempt in
accordance with section 24(1) of the FOIA. Section 24 provides an
exemption from disclosure where provision of the information would make
the UK, its system of government or its people more vulnerable to a
national security threat. This is a qualified or non-absolute exemption
and the public interest test applies.

There is a public interest in ensuring there is adequate security and
protection of MPs and how taxpayers’ money is spent on their protection
from harm or threats of harm. However, it is not in the wider public
interest to disclose any information which specifies the detailed
locations of Members because there may be a risk of compromise to national
security.

The Information Commissioner’s Office guidance on this exemption states
that “It is not necessary to show that disclosing the information would
lead to a direct or immediate threat to the UK. In a time of global
terrorism our national security can depend on cooperating with others.”
Motivated individuals or groups planning attacks are known to conduct
extensive research into the vulnerabilities and accessibility of their
intended targets and the disclosure of such information would reveal
valuable information about the concentrated location of Members which in
turn could help criminals, terrorists or fixated individuals find ways of
disrupting the proper workings of government. For these reasons it is our
view that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the
public interest in disclosing the information.

Section 31 Law enforcement

We have also concluded that this information should be withheld under
section 31(1)(a) of the FOIA, as the House considers the release of this
information would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of
crime. This is a qualified or non-absolute exemption and the public
interest test applies.

There is a public interest in the adequate security and protection of
Members as they carry out their roles as elected representatives. These
obligations and legitimate interests are outweighed by the risk of
criminal activity being undertaken if the information related to their
specific whereabouts was disclosed. In disclosing this information we
would fail in our duty to prevent these important details from falling
into the hands of individuals with malicious or criminal intent against
the estate or individuals thereon, which in turn would fail in our duty to
assist those services providing us with law enforcement. The information
could assist those seeking to gain access to MPs for malicious reasons by
providing them with details to identify vulnerabilities or ways of
circumventing the measures in place that are available to MPs to protect
themselves. It is our view that the greater public interest in maintaining
the exemption outweighs the minor public interest in disclosing the
information.

Section 38(1) exemption (Health & Safety)

Lastly, we have concluded that the provision of information about the
specific location of a number of Members is an obvious risk to their
safety.  This information is being withheld under section 38(1)(a) and (b)
(Health and Safety) of the Freedom of Information Act (2000), as to
disclose this information to the public generally would be likely to
endanger the safety of individuals. This is not an absolute exemption and
requires a public interest test to be performed.

There is public interest in knowing and understanding how Members are
provided with adequate protection of their health and safety when both on
and away the parliamentary estate. However, it is not in the wider public
interest to make known detailed information relating to the location of
Members. Disclosing this information may enable groups or fixated
individuals to target them and in recent times, after the Jo Cox tragedy
and this year’s terror attack on Parliament, this can be a cause of great
concern and anxiety for MPs. 

It is our view that the greater public interest in maintaining the
exemption outweighs the minor public interest in disclosing the
information.

You may, if dissatisfied with the handling of your request, complain to
the House of Commons. Alternatively, if you are dissatisfied with the
outcome of your request you may ask the House of Commons to conduct an
internal review of any decision regarding your request.  Complaints or
requests for internal review should be addressed to: Information Rights
and Information Security Service, Research & Information Team, House of
Commons, London SW1A 0AA or [1][House of Commons request email].  Please ensure
that you specify the full reasons for your complaint or internal review
along with 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,
[2]www.ico.gov.uk.

Yours sincerely,

         
Information Rights Manager
Information Rights and Information Security (IRIS) Service | House of
Commons

[3]cid:image002.jpg@01D02B64.34D76640

Click [4]here for information about FOI in the House of Commons,

or to see what we publish.

From: G Webber [mailto:[FOI #451141 email]]
Sent: 07 December 2017 14:01
To: FOI Commons <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Brexit impact assessments:
reading room

Dear House of Commons

A letter to all MPs and Peers from Robin Walker MP, dated 4 December,
states that the reading room which has been set up for viewing of the
Brexit impact assessments was “arranged in consultation with the
Parliamentary Authorities in both Houses”.

Please can you provide me with an electronic copy of all recorded
information you hold regarding the provision of this reading room (I am
not interested in the wider proceedings regarding the impact assessments;
only the reading room).

The letter goes on to say that these arrangements are “in keeping with the
arrangements for previous reading rooms”.

If it would not exceed the cost threshold after you have complied with the
first part of my request (above), please provide me with an electronic
copy of all information you hold regarding the provision of previous
reading rooms.

Best wishes
Gabriel

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[5][FOI #451141 email]

Is [6][House of Commons request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests to House of Commons? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[7]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_re...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[8]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[9]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections