Claims by MPs for first class travel

IPSA holds the information that you request.

Under the MPs’ Scheme of Business Costs and Expenses (the Scheme), claims for allowable rail journeys are limited to the rate of an “anytime standard open” ticket.  MPs are not restricted in terms of ticket class, however, the amount reimbursed to the MP will not be higher than the cost of an economy class ticket available when the ticket was booked.

We publish details of MPs’ claims for expenses on our website.  When MPs make claims for rail expenses, they must complete a specific ticket class data field.  This ticket class data, which is also published, will allow you to easily filter the published information to view the data you have requested.  In preparing our response to you, we carried out an additional check to ensure that all the data on first class travel was easy searchable.  You may view the published information by visiting our publication website. 

The FOIA states that information that is accessible by other means is not subject to release.  Therefore, as the information you have requested is already available on our website it is exempt from disclosure under section 21 of the FOIA (information accessible to applicant by other means).

Details of claims for expenses are published in a two month cycle, three months in arrears. The next publication date for expense claims is Thursday 12 July 2012.