Correspondence between IPSA, MPs and Westminster Digital

IPSA holds the information you requested.

We have searched our systems for any correspondence exchanged between IPSA staff members and individuals whose email addresses or email signatures indicate they work at Westminster Digital.

In addition to this, we have searched our records for email correspondence between IPSA and MPs mentioning Westminster Digital. The requested information we hold accompanies this response.

Please note that we have withheld personal data related to IPSA staff or third parties affiliated with Westminster Digital in accordance with s.40 FOIA (Personal Information).

Further information on the application of this exemption can be found below.

Exemption applied

Section 40 –Personal Information

Information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person is ‘personal data’, as defined by the General Data Protection Principle (GDPR). Section 40(2) of the FOIA provides that personal information is exempt information if:

(a) it constitutes personal data; and

(b) the condition set out in s. 40(3A)(a) of FOIA is satisfied, namely that disclosure to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles in the GDPR.

In our view (a) is satisfied because the information sought by you relates to an identifiable, living individual, and (b) is also satisfied because disclosure would breach the first data protection principle in Article 5(1)(a) of the GDPR, which requires that personal information is processed fairly, lawfully and in a transparent manner; processing includes disclosure. In relation to fairness, IPSA is required to process personal data in a manner in which people, includingIPSAstaff or third parties with whom they correspond would reasonably expect, and we are therefore obliged to withhold their names from disclosure under section 40(2) of the FOIA.

This part of the section 40 exemption is an absolute exemption and so no consideration of public interest arguments for and against disclosure is required.

This concludes our response to your request.