Sunday Telegraph alleges Information Commissioner u-turn over MPs' expenses

by Noelle McElhatton, marketingdirectmag.co.uk 01-Jun-09, 10:15

LONDON - The Information Commissioner Richard Thomas, due to retire later this month, was planning to order the publication of the full details of MPs' expenses three years ago, but backed down after pressure from the House of Commons, according to a report in The Sunday Telegraph.

The Sunday Telegraph reported yesterday that Thomas had prepared a draft decision in 2006 ruling that the Commons was not acting properly under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and should release expenses details, including receipts. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) enforces the FOI Act, along with data protection legislation.

The newspaper, which has set the national news agenda for the past three weeks with its revelations about MPs’ expenses, is basing its information commissioner story on a series of leaked emails.

One leaked email a data protection and FOI officer at the Commons was sent to an ICO staffer protesting that the decision was "inaccurate and unfair".

However, after a series of communications between his office and Commons authorities Thomas backed down and agreed that details of receipts should remain secret.

The Sunday Telegraph yesterday alleged that Jack Straw, then the Commons Leader, held a meeting with Thomas and his deputy, Graham Smith, between the commissioner's draft ruling and final decision in June 2007.

The newspaper quotes a spokesman for Jack Straw denying that the talks played a "fundamental" role in the commissioner's U-turn.

Christopher Graham, the Advertising Standards Authority executive director, is due to replace Thomas as information commissioner this month.

The Information Commissioner’s investigation into MPs expenses followed a complaint in April 2005 by the Sunday Telegraph over the Commons' failure to release expenses details for six named MPs under the FOI Act.