MPs' addresses to remain secret

MPs wanted their addresses to remain private

MPs have won their battle to keep their addresses private.

Ministers moved an order to exclude addresses, travel plans and security bills from Freedom of Information laws.

The High Court had ordered addresses be published as part of a wider FoI battle over expenses claims, to check MPs were living in properties they claimed for.

But Commons leader Harriet Harman told MPs they had to remain private to protect MPs and their neighbours from "harassment at home".

She had pledged to protect MPs' addresses from publication - but the order moved by the government also stops travel plans, expenditure on security and the identity of people delivering goods from being disclosed.

'Fixated individual'

The draft Freedom of Information (Parliament and National Assembly for Wales) order was passed without a vote and will go to the Lords.

Ms Harman, whose home was last week targeted by Fathers 4 Justice protesters, told MPs: "This is not just about current threats but about the future."

People have a right to know where their MPs do live in my view David Taylor Labour MP

She said these could include "a fixated individual", or a wider risk to all MPs, such as a terrorist threat focusing on Parliament.

She said the advice from the Parliamentary security co-ordinator was that it would be a risk to put details of MPs' addresses in the public domain.

For the Conservatives, MP Shailesh Vara said: "This is not about secrecy for secrecy's sake. It is simply a matter of striking a balance between greater openness and the need for ensuring safety and security for both members and their families."

Expenses breakdown

And Sir Robert Smith, for the Lib Dems, said it implemented "the will of the House" and did "seem to make sense".

But Labour MP David Taylor said the order went "a little bit over the top" and said his address was in the phone book.

"People have a right to know where their MPs do live, in my view."

Anyone seeking nomination to be an MP must publish a constituency address, although MPs are not obliged to give the address of their second home, which is normally in London.

But in May the High Court ordered the publication of a detailed breakdown of the expenses of 14 senior MPs, and their addresses - over concerns that some MPs may be claiming for properties they did not occupy.

The Commons will publish a detailed breakdown of expenses, including second-home allowances, from the autumn.

An early day motion proposed by the Conservative MP Julian Lewis, saying MPs' addresses should not be published if there was an objection on security grounds, had been supported by 256 MPs.