Question
To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to her statement of 22 May 2008, Official Report, column 399, on publication of hon. Members' addresses, what assessment she has made of the effect on the (a) personal safety and (b) ability to speak on controversial issues of hon. and right hon. Members if their home addresses are published and accessible; whether she has (i) sought and (ii) received security advice on the implications of such publication for the safety of right hon. and hon. Members, their families and neighbours; and if she will make a statement.
Answer
As I explained to the House during business questions on 5 June 2008, Official Report, column 925:"““I know that there is concern in all parts of the House about two aspects of this matter. The first is the personal security of Members. The second, which I consider even more important, is the need for Members to feel absolutely confident that they can speak in the House on difficult issues without fearing that, when they leave the Chamber having spoken about what they believe in, they will have to look over their shoulders because their addresses are in the public domain. In that regard, the House authorities are seeking legal advice on whether or not the Freedom of Information Act provides an opportunity for the House to defend Members' right to speak without having to look over their shoulders thereafter””."The Members Estimate Committee has taken advice from a number of sources, including on security matters. It is not the practice to disclose the source or nature of such advice. However, it needs to be borne in mind that, in the case of the fourteen Members and ex-Members for whom detailed information about allowances claims was recently released, the relevant Information Tribunal and High Court decisions allowed the redaction of home addresses where a Member had a special security reason for keeping the address of his or her home confidential.