Claims for Security Assistance made by MPs in 2016

Request

  1. How much has been spent on additional security measures for MPs at their homes and offices since the death of Jo Cox MP in June 2016?

  2. How many lone worker devices have been claimed for since the death of Jo Cox MP in June 2016?

  3. How many lone worker devices were claimed for January 2016 - June 2016?

  4. How many lone worker devices were claimed for in the whole of 2015?

  5. How many MPs have claimed for an enhanced security package since the death of Jo Cox MP in June 2016?

  6. How many MPs claimed for an enhanced security package January - June 2016?

  7. How many MPs claimed for an enhanced security package in the whole of 2015?

  8. How many MPs have contacted the MP support team regarding a specific threat since the death of Jo Cox MP in June 2016?

  9. How many MPs contacted the MP support team regarding a specific threat January - June 2016?

  10. How many MPs contacted the MP support team regarding a specific threat in 2015?


Response

Security Assistance may be claimed under the MPs’ Scheme of Business Costs and Expenses (‘the Scheme’) for additional security measures that are necessary to enable the MP’s parliamentary functions to be undertaken.

IPSA takes the security of MPs very seriously. We wrote to all MPs earlier this year to inform them of the security support available, which includes security at their home and at constituency offices.

Claims for Security Assistance do not follow the same claims validation process utilised for most other claims made under the Scheme. Instead there is an application process outlined in the security options package issued by IPSA, which were prepared by security experts in the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI).

Due to the sensitive nature of claims for Security Assistance, details of individual claims are not published. However, at the end of each financial year we publish the total figure for claims made during the year. You can find this information on our website via this link.

MPs may still choose to claim routine security costs from their standard budgets (eg. Office Costs Expenditure) as a standard claim. Details of such claims would be published on our website under the relevant expense type. The information contained within this response below relates to all claims made for security, including those made under the Security Assistance budget and any other available budget.

Taking your requests for information in turn:

  • How much has been spent on additional security measures for MPs at their homes and offices since the death of Jo Cox MP in June 2016?

Since 16 June 2016, £637,791.63 has been spent on claims for security by MPs. This includes claims made through the Office Costs Expenditure budget and the Security Assistance budget.

  • How many lone worker devices have been claimed for since the death of Jo Cox MP in June 2016?

Since 16 June 2016, 124 applications for lone worker devices have been approved by IPSA for MPs and their staff.

  • How many lone worker devices were claimed for January 2016 - June 2016?

40 applications for lone worker devices were approved by IPSA for MPs and their staff between 1 January 2016 and 15 June 2016.

  • How many lone worker devices were claimed for in the whole of 2015?

Lone worker devices were introduced as part of the changes to MPs' security at the beginning of 2016. As such, this information is not held by IPSA.

  • How many MPs have claimed for an enhanced security package since the death of Jo Cox MP in June 2016?

Since 16 June 2016, 66 applications for enhanced security have been approved by IPSA.

  • How many MPs claimed for an enhanced security package January - June 2016?

22 applications for enhanced security packages were approved by IPSA between 1 January 2016 and 15 June 2016.

  • How many MPs claimed for an enhanced security package in the whole of 2015?

The enhanced security package was introduced as part of the changes to MPs' security at the beginning of 2016 and was not therefore available in 2015. As such, this information is not held by IPSA.

  • How many MPs have contacted the MP support team regarding a specific threat since the death of Jo Cox MP in June 2016?

  • How many MPs contacted the MP support team regarding a specific threat January - June 2016?

  • How many MPs contacted the MP support team regarding a specific threat in 2015?

This information is not collected or held by IPSA.

CORRECTION:

The original response to this request incorrectly stated: "the information contained within this response below relates only to claims made under the Security Assistance budget." This was incorrect. The figures contained within the response relate to claims made under the Security Assistance budget and any claims for security costs made from standard budgets (eg. Office Costs Expenditure).

Ref:
CAS-60563
Disclosure:
25 October 2016
Categories:
SECURITY ASSISTANCE
Exemptions Applied:
None