The Information Tribunal has today ruled in favour of Lib Dem MP, Norman Baker, in his long-running Freedom of Information battle with the House of Commons authorities to get them to publish a breakdown of travel expenses claimed by MPs.
Mr Baker, who first submitted his FOI request on the matter two years ago in January 2005, has successfully refuted the House authorities' claim of a valid exemption on the basis that the publication of such a breakdown would constitute the release of personal information relating to individual MPs.
Mr Baker, who has earned a reputation for his determination to make government and Parliament more accountable to the public, published the breakdown of his own travel expenses on his website when he received it from the House authorities last year.
All MPs receive this breakdown for their own personal travel expenses but, up until now, this information for all MPs has not been publicly released. The House of Commons now have 30 days to publish the breakdown or appeal to the High Court.
Commenting on the victory, Norman Baker said:
"This is another victory in the battle to make Parliament more accountable to the people and I am absolutely delighted to have won my case on the matter. What is more, I will be very interested to see the figures when they are published shortly.
"There is absolutely no reason not to release this information to the public. I am the first to defend people's right to privacy but I do not think this information is personal in the least. No-one is asking MPs to release details of individual journeys or compromise their future security by telling people exactly where they go and when. This information will simply let people know much MPs are spending on different modes of travel. If the public are paying then they have the right to know what the money is being spent on.
"Let us see which MPs are caring for the environment by using public transport around town and which are still happily driving everywhere despite available alternatives."
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