Dr Paul Williams, MP's expense claims
Request
Is it please possible under FOI to see receipts for the below claims, for MP Dr Paul Williams (2x stationary Expenses)
Is it also please possible to have details(receipt) for the below hotel stay & reason for this travel
Is it also please possible to have a breakdown (Cost£) for Dependent Travel claimed by the MP, who was the dependant and reason for this claim
Claim Ref. No.684530MPPaul WilliamsConstituencyStockton SouthFinancial Year2018 to 2019Expense CategoryMP TravelExpense TypeHotel Outside UKAmount Claimed£121.74Amount Paid£121.74Amount Not PaidN/AAmount RepaidN/AStatusPaidDate9 Oct 2018Short DescriptionHotel Stay - PolandDetailsHotel Stay 9/10 - 10/10Journey TypeEuropean travel MP onlyJourneyto
Claim Ref. No.Payment To SupplierMPPaul WilliamsConstituencyStockton SouthFinancial Year2018 to 2019Expense CategoryOffice CostsExpense TypeOther Equip PurchaseAmount Claimed£63.58Amount Paid£63.58Amount Not PaidN/AAmount RepaidN/AStatusPaidDate6 Jun 2018Short DescriptionBannerDetailsHeadphone(s)
Claim Ref. No.Payment To SupplierMPPaul WilliamsConstituencyStockton SouthFinancial Year2018 to 2019Expense CategoryOffice CostsExpense TypeOther Equip PurchaseAmount Claimed£85.13Amount Paid£85.13Amount Not PaidN/AAmount RepaidN/AStatusPaidDate6 Jun 2018Short DescriptionBannerDetails
Response
IPSA holds some of the information that you request.
| Expense Type | Short Description | Expense Type | Journey | Reimbursed |
| Travel/Subsist. | Hotel Stay - Poland | Hotel Outside UK | European Travel MP Only | 121.74 |
Under the Scheme of MPs’ Business Costs and Expenses (‘the Scheme’), travel and subsistence claims may be made for the costs of travel, and travel-related subsistence incurred by MPs or others, which are in support of the MP’s parliamentary functions. IPSA will only pay for journeys to other states in Europe, and no other international travel costs may be claimed, except in circumstances when Parliament is recalled.
Please find attached the requested invoice. Please note that we do not hold the reason for travel, as MPs are not obliged to supply us with this information.
| Expense Type | Journey | Class/Reason | Status | Reimbursed |
| Public Tr RAIL Dependant - SGL | Between London & Constituency | Standard | Allowed | 73.55 |
| Public Tr RAIL SP - SGL | Between London & Constituency | Standard | Allowed | 131.68 |
| Public Tr RAIL SP - RTN | Between London & Constituency | Standard | Allowed | 51.70 |
| Public Tr RAIL Dependant - SGL | Between London & Constituency | First | Allowed | 46.15 |
| Parking - SP | Between London & Constituency | Allowed | 10.00 | |
| Public Tr RAIL Dependant - SGL | Between London & Constituency | Standard | Allowed | 47.65 |
| Public Tr RAIL Dependant - RTN | Between London & Constituency | First | Allowed | 75.00 |
| Public Tr RAIL Dependant - RTN | Between London & Constituency | First | Allowed | 134.50 |
Under the Scheme, travel and subsistence claims may be made for the costs of travel, and travel-related subsistence incurred by MPs or others, which are in support of the MP’s parliamentary functions. This includes claims for journeys by MPs’ dependants and (since April 2017) MPs’ spouses and partners, between the constituency and London. .
The table above provides a summary of claims made by Dr Williams’ dependants. We have withheld their names in accordance with the exemption under section 40 FOIA (Personal data). Further information on this exemption can be found below.
IPSA can make payments direct to a number of suppliers on behalf of the MP, removing the need for the MP to pay, claim or provide evidence.
The claims in the table above were paid directly with the relevant supplier. As such, we do not hold any receipts or documentation relating to these claims.
Exemptions applied
Section 40 – Personal data
Specific information relating to named individuals is ‘personal data’, as defined by the General Data Protection Regulation. When considering whether or not it is appropriate to disclose personal data under the Freedom of Information Act, we must consider whether or not it would be ‘fair’ and ‘lawful’. It is unlikely to be in the reasonable expectations of Dr Williams’ dependants, that their names would be put into the public domain.
Section 40(2)(A) provides that personal information about third parties is exempt information if disclosure would breach the fair processing principle (Principle 1) of the DPA, where it would be unfair to those persons or is confidential.
You can find out more information about personal data and FOI via guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on their website.
Section 40 FOIA is an absolute exemption, and is therefore not subject to a public interest test.
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- Ref:
- CAS-136542
- Disclosure:
- 22 April 2019
- Categories:
- COPIES OF RECEIPTS/INVOICESMPs' OFFICE COSTSMPs' TRAVEL
- Exemptions Applied:
- Section 40