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Ann Keen MP and Alan Keen MP named in Complaint

Ann Keen,MP for Brentford and Isleworth, and her husband, Alan Keen, MP for Feltham and Heston, have been named in a Freedom of Information Complaint against the House of Commons which was the subject of a  Decision by the Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, on 13th June 2007.The Complaint was made to the Information Commissioner because the House of Commons refused to provide information regarding the Additional Costs Allowances claimed by the named MP's. Additional Cost Allowances are claimed by MP's for constituencies  outside Inner London in respect of accommodation in London. The Keens are entitled to and both claim Additional Cost Allowances because their constituences are in Outer London even though their home in Brentford is less than 10 miles from the House of Commons.In 2005/06, Ann Keen claimed £15,794 and Alan Keen claimed £14,494 in Additional Costs Allowances out of their total expenses claims of  £127,385 and £124,570 respectively.For details see:http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2007/fs_50071451.pdfThe other MP's mentioned are the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair MP for Sedgefield, Barbara Follett MP for Stevenage and John Wilkinson MP for Ruislip. The EU Commissioner, Peter Mandelson,the former MP for Hartlepool, is also named in the Decison. It appears that the House of Commons has 28 days in which to appeal against the decision and 35 days in which to provide the information. If the House of Commons does not appeal by 11th July, then the House of Commons has to provide the information by 18th July 2007.

David Giles ● 6604d6 Comments

Evidently the Complaint is going to be heard by the  tribunal on the 7th and 8th of February 2008

David Giles ● 6389d

Tim,I have been receiving Ann Keen's written answers also and been astonished by the poverty of her responses.

David Giles ● 6574d

Since Ann got her new job, my email inbox has been flooded with emails from theyworkforyou giving information on her answers to the House.Many written answers take the form of "the data you want is not collected/not centrally available /  not available without involving disproportionate cost".Nevertheless she has been giving information on the six deaths to children under one who have died from MRSA and the number of hospital meals which are returned untouched. It surprised me that there was no information available on the number of diagnosed cases of asthma in Greater London.

Tim Henderson ● 6574d

TimYou are quite correct.  Other MP's are also under scrutiny. However the Keens are of particular interest because they are husband and wife and because they live within 10 miles of House of Commons.In addition, the Keens have never attempted to explain or justify their claiming of such large amounts of taxpayers' money for these purposes.They are also of interest because they represent the two Hounslow constituencies. They have been criticised for their poor speaking records in the House of Commons and failure to hold open access, publicly advertised, walk-in constituency surgeries in their constituencies.

David Giles ● 6575d

It appears that it wasn't just the Keens' case that goes to the tribunal. All four similar decisions to reveal more details of MP's expenses have been appealed against. And all on 12th July.

Tim Henderson ● 6575d

According to page 5 of today's Hounslow Chronicle, the House of Commons has appealed the Information Commissioner's ruling that the House of Commons should release details of Ann and Alan Keen's expenses. The appeal was lodged on 12th July - the final day of the 28 day appeal period. The issue will now go to an Appeal Tribunal for a hearing in August.The article says "the Keens have repeatedly refused to explain publicly how nearly £100,000 of allowances claimed between 2001 and 2004 have been spent. ""There have been persistent rumours  that they have a mortgage on a second home in Covent Garden which is paid foer by claims under the additional costs allowances" says the Chronicle.It will be interesting to hear of the Appeals Tribunal's ruling in August.

David Giles ● 6575d