MPs vote to keep their home addresses secret

MPs vote to keep their home addresses secret

MPs have voted to change the law to keep their home addresses secret. The move came after a court ordered Parliament to disclose details of properties on which MPs claim expenses.

The House of Commons on Monday backed an amendment to the Political Parties and Elections Bill, which effectively excludes MPs' addresses from the Freedom of Information Act.

Some MPs have claimed that disclosure of the information would threaten their security.

However, freedom of information campaigners believe the information is important to ascertain the validity of expense claims.

Some fear that the ban will make it harder to establish whether MPs are complying with the rules on housing expenses, making it easier for them to abuse their allowances.

MPs vote to change law to keep home addresses secret (Daily Telegraph, 3 March 2009)