Catering subsidies 2012
Dear House of Commons Commission,
Under the Freedom of Information act could you please provide the following information:
How much in GBP of public taxes were spent on subsidising restaurants, bars and catering outlets within the Houses of Parliament for the whole year of 2012?
Yours faithfully,
Sharn Rayment
Dear Sharn Rayment,
Freedom of Information Request F13-016
Thank you for your request for information as copied below.
The information you require is recorded in financial years. Some of the information you are requesting is already available in the public domain at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/foi/2...
Figures for the remainder of 2012 which will be incorporated into the 2012/13 financial year are being withheld under section 22 (intended for future publication) of the Freedom of Information Act.
Section 22 is a qualified exemption, and accordingly we had to consider whether the public interest is in withholding the information or in disclosing it. The arguments for and against disclosure are detailed below.
The general argument in favour of releasing information is that there is a public interest in being able to scrutinise aspects of the House of Commons where that information might be easy to access and will not prejudice the House. Against disclosure the main argument is the public interest in permitting public authorities to publish information in a manner and form and at a time of their own choosing. It is a part of the effective conduct of public affairs that the general publication of information is a conveniently planned and managed activity within the reasonable control of public authorities. Where the decision has been made in principle to publish, there is a reasonable entitlement to make arrangements to do so.
The House of Commons intends to publish this information after the conclusion of the current financial year.
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 SW1 0AA or [House of Commons Commission 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,
Arianne
Arianne Kitchener | IRIS Manager
Information Rights and Information Security (IRIS) Service | House of Commons
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