Thank you for emailing the Freedom of Information mailbox at the
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).

This mailbox is for those wishing to make requests under the Freedom of
Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations only. If your
email concerns this, you will shortly receive a formal acknowledgement and
reference number. You can also use this mailbox if you have any queries
about an existing request, or if you want to submit an appeal.

IPSA is committed to transparency and accountability and routinely
publishes a large amount of information on its website. It may that the
information you are asking about is already available.

Information about IPSA: [1]https://www.theipsa.org.uk/about-us/

Information about MPs’ costs and expenses:
[2]https://www.theipsa.org.uk/mp-costs/

IPSA Disclaimer

The information contained in this communication from the sender is
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authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby
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may be unlawful. This email has been scanned for viruses and malware by
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2. https://www.theipsa.org.uk/mp-costs/
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Dear M Hands

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request which was received on 14
May 2024.

Before we can proceed, we need to seek some clarification.

You ask,

Please can you detail the number of persons to have contacted the IPSA pre
Publishing details of MPs business costs for December 2023 and January
2024

Clarification required

IPSA may receive communication from more than one individual in an MP’s
office, who could be a member of staff or the MP themselves. Depending on
the nature of the contact we may need to go back for more information, at
which time we may deal with a different individual but on the same matter.

Please confirm if you want to know the total number of individuals
(including the MPs themselves) with whom we have communicated during the
periods specified, or whether you are actually asking for the number of MP
offices which have contact IPSA with queries prior to publication? If you
do want the number of individuals would you the number include the number
of incoming contact we have had with them, e.g. each email, phone call
they make to IPSA?

The Freedom of Information Act stipulates that a clarified request is a
new request for information. This means that, once we have understand the
information which you are seeking, we will respond to your new request
within 20 working days.

Yours sincerely

Alison Benson

Information Governance Officer

[1]www.theipsa.org.uk 

[2]@ipsauk 

From: M Hands <[FOI #1130248 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 6:50 PM
To: FOI (Freedom of Information) [Mailbox] <[IPSA request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Request 273 - request
transparency

Dear Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority,

Please can you provide the total amount
Mimecast
Costs to your organisation annually

Please can you detail the number of persons to have contacted the IPSA pre
Publishing details of MPs business costs for December 2023 and January
2024

In the last two weeks
And prior to last two weeks

*Only in relation to
pre Publishing details of MPs business costs for December 2023 and January
2024

Yours faithfully,

M Hands

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[3][FOI #1130248 email]

Is [4][IPSA request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority? If so, please
contact us using this form:
[5]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:
[6]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

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

Following my email of 15 May 2024, in which I asked for clarification of
your request, I am writing to remind you that this is still required? If
we do not receive clarification by next week we will close this case
reference.

You can always submit a new request using the advice we provided in our
clarification request.

Yours faithfully

Alison Benson

Information Governance Officer

[1]www.theipsa.org.uk 

[2]@ipsauk 

IPSA Disclaimer

The information contained in this communication from the sender is
confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others
authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby
notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in
relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and
may be unlawful. This email has been scanned for viruses and malware by
Mimecast, but no liability is accepted for any damage caused by any virus
transmitted by this e-mail.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.theipsa.org.uk/
2. https://www.twitter.com/ipsauk

Thank you for emailing the Freedom of Information mailbox at the
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).

This mailbox is for those wishing to make requests under the Freedom of
Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations only. If your
email concerns this, you will shortly receive a formal acknowledgement and
reference number. You can also use this mailbox if you have any queries
about an existing request, or if you want to submit an appeal.

IPSA is committed to transparency and accountability and routinely
publishes a large amount of information on its website. It may that the
information you are asking about is already available.

Information about IPSA: [1]https://www.theipsa.org.uk/about-us/

Information about MPs’ costs and expenses:
[2]https://www.theipsa.org.uk/mp-costs/

Information about the General
Election: [3]https://www.ipsaonline.org.uk/topics/gen...

IPSA Disclaimer

The information contained in this communication from the sender is
confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others
authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby
notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in
relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and
may be unlawful. This email has been scanned for viruses and malware by
Mimecast, but no liability is accepted for any damage caused by any virus
transmitted by this e-mail.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.theipsa.org.uk/about-us/
https://www.theipsa.org.uk/about-us/
2. https://www.theipsa.org.uk/mp-costs/
https://www.theipsa.org.uk/mp-costs/
3. https://www.ipsaonline.org.uk/topics/gen...

Dear M Hands

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your request for information which
was received by IPSA on 03 July 2024.

Your request will be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
and you should expect our response by 01 August 2024.

In the meantime, you may find the following information on our website
helpful:

[1]A guide to MPs’ staffing and business costs

[2]Publications

[3]News blog and FAQs

Responding to your request

Section 10 of the Freedom of Information Act allows public authorities to
apply variations to the normal 20 working day timescale in some limited
circumstances. Should this be necessary we will contact you to advise of
an extension in advance of the deadline given above.

Should we require further clarification from you, we will contact you
about this as soon as possible.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, we
will let you know. A fees notice will then be issued to you, and you will
be required to pay before we proceed to deal with your request.

Yours sincerely

Alison Benson

Information Governance Officer

[4]www.theipsa.org.uk 

[5]@ipsauk 

From: M Hands <[FOI #1130248 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2024 12:34 PM
To: FOI (Freedom of Information) [Mailbox] <[IPSA request email]>
Subject: Re: RFI-202405-02 - request for clarification

Dear FOI (Freedom of Information)

thank you for your continued interest in transparency and accountability
in public service organisation (s) and institution (s) without delay (s)

apologies for the time taken to clarify but this was and is due to
unusual, unforseen, unique and special circumstances - beyond our control
at this stage

as there are unique circumstances - it is requested that the request
remains as part of the whatdotheyknowteam link

You said
Please confirm if you want to know the total number of individuals
(including the MPs themselves) with whom we have communicated etc

or

whether you are actually asking for the number of MP offices which have
contact with the IPSA with queries prior to publication

We asked
The total amount
Mimecast
costs to your organisation annually

and
the number of person to have contacted the IPSA pre publishing details of
MPs business costs for Dec 2023 and Jan 2024

which is clarified as

actually asking for the number of MP offices which have contact with the
IPSA with queries prior to publication

quote
The Freedom of Information Act, also known as FOI gives you the right to
request recorded information from public authorities.

As well as documents and emails, it also covers things like spreadsheets,
presentations, maps, videos and photographs.

By law requests have to be answered promptly and within 20 working days.

In most cases information should be released, but various exemptions allow
authorities to withhold information.
end quote

Yours sincerely,

M Hands

show quoted sections

Dear M Hands

Please find attached a response to your request.

Yours sincerely

Alison Benson

Information Governance Officer

[1]www.theipsa.org.uk 

[2]@ipsauk 

IPSA Disclaimer

The information contained in this communication from the sender is
confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others
authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby
notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in
relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and
may be unlawful. This email has been scanned for viruses and malware by
Mimecast, but no liability is accepted for any damage caused by any virus
transmitted by this e-mail.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.theipsa.org.uk/
2. https://www.twitter.com/ipsauk