Your Right To Know

TO: Judy Wilson
Freedom of Information Officer
House of Commons Information Office
Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA

June 29, 2005

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST: NUMBER OF ATTACKS MADE AGAINST MEMBERS’ SECRETARIES AND RESEARCH ASSISTANTS IN THE LAST 5 YEARS

Dear Ms Wilson

I am writing to request the above information for each year in a five-year period ending with the time this request is processed. In addition, I would like to know summary details of the attack (date, what sort of attack) and how this attack related to the staff member’s employment. If these details take longer to process, then please send the actual figures first, followed by the details.

I would expect this information to be given promptly rather than the maximum 20-working days as it appears to be readily available. You state in your email to me of 29 June 2005, “the House has been advised that the names of Members’ staff ought not to be disclosed for reasons of security as such disclosure may render them, and the Members for whom they work, vulnerable to attack.” You also state that the Register of Interests covering Members’ secretaries and research assistants has been withdrawn from the Parliamentary website.

I therefore presume that some empirical evidence exists illustrating the frequency of attacks on members of staff and research assistants and how publishing their names on the Parliamentary website has endangered them.

I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request. I look forward to hearing from you within the 20-working day statutory time period.

Regards,
Heather Brooke
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FROM: HEALEY, Mary [HEALEYM@parliament.uk]
SENT: Tue 12/07/2005 12:31
SUBJECT: FW: FoI #8WILSON, Judy02 - Heather Brooke

Dear Ms Brooke

Re: NUMBER OF ATTACKS MADE AGAINST MEMBERS’ SECRETARIES AND RESEARCH ASSISTANTS IN THE LAST 5 YEARS

I refer to your request for information addressed to Judy Wilson, the Freedom of Information Officer for the House of Commons. I have to inform you that your request has been researched and that the House of Commons holds no information regarding attacks on Members’ Secretaries or Research Assistants. I would point out that although no such incidents have taken place or been reported on the Parliamentary Estate during the last five years, there may well have been such crimes reported to local police forces across the country.

Regards
Muir Morton
Deputy Serjeant at Arms