CONSERVATIVE
New Forest East

HOME AFFAIRS – MPs' HOME ADDRESSES - 15 December 2008

HOME AFFAIRS – MPs' HOME ADDRESSES - 15 December 2008

Dr Julian Lewis: The Home Secretary will remember the House's overwhelming support for the idea that hon. Members' home addresses should not be revealed in response to freedom of information requests. A consultation, organised by her colleagues in the Ministry of Justice, is under way on whether such addresses should be replaced by just the first half of the postcode, which, at election times, could be included on nomination and other relevant paperwork. Does she agree, from the point of view of her work on fighting terrorism, that that would be a good, sensible compromise that would add to the safety of hon. Members?

[The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Jacqui Smith): Clearly, I do not want to pre-empt the consultation, but the hon. Gentleman makes a very important point that I know is being borne carefully in mind by my colleagues in the Ministry of Justice. He has made it forcefully on numerous occasions, and I think that he has significant support from across the House on the issue.]