Expenses paid to justices of the peace to remain undisclosed

Daren Fitzhenry 

JPs can claim travel and other expenses but the Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC) Daren Fitzhenry has rejected a freedom of information request intended to reveal details of individual claims.

He believes that publishing such information could have a “detrimental effect” and cause JPs “a degree of distress”.

He said “a clear distinction” arose between the role of JPs and those of salaried sheriffs and judges and that they “may have had no expectation that their personal data would be disclosed”.

The SIC also said there “appears to be sufficient procedures in place to ensure adequate scrutiny of the expenses”.

The request had been made by Peter Cherbi who has petitioned for a judicial register of interests.

He said the decision was “regressive, and effectively creates a separate rule of secrecy for JPs”.