Key information
Request reference number: MGLA101024-2629
Date of response:
Summary of request
Request:
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding Greater London Authority's expenditure on hotel accommodation for homelessness and refugee support over the last 12 months. Please provide the following details:
- Total expenditure on hotel accommodation for homelessness and refugee-related purposes during the specified period.
- Number of hotel nights booked for individuals experiencing homelessness and/or refugees.
- A list of hotels where bookings were made, along with the respective amounts spent at each hotel.
Response:
I can confirm that the GLA holds information within the scope of your request.
Please note that the information the GLA has provided relates to hotels used for homelessness purposes (i.e. accommodating people who were rough sleeping in London).
None of the hotels were used specifically for ‘refugee-related purposes’ (as per the wording of your request).
However it is possible that there may have been refugees amongst the people who were rough sleeping who were accommodated.
Please find below the information we hold within the scope of your request.
*Rooms were "block booked" and not necessarily occupied for the entirety of the booking. The GLA does not hold information on the number of nights that each room was occupied
Some of the information you requested is exempt from disclosure under Section 38(1)(a) and (b) (Health and safety) of the FoIA.
Section 38(1) of the Act states that:
Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to - (a) endanger the physical or mental health of any individual, or (b) endanger the safety of any individual.
The information withheld from disclosure relates to identifiable information relating to these hotels.
Section 38(1)(b) of the Act is duly engaged because of the potential risk to public safety as set out in the Act. Londoners sleeping rough are particularly vulnerable, and their safety may be more easily endangered by others.
The GLA is mindful of releasing information relating to the location and identifiable features of the accommodation where there is a likelihood that Rough sleepers and/or refugees would be singled out for harassment, intimidation and possible violence by others. This information has been redacted to protect the staff and customers of the hotel accommodation whereby there is the potential for persons with ill intent to target these locations.
Section 38(1) is a qualified exemption. The Act provides that a public authority must weigh the public interest in maintaining the exemption against the public interest in disclosure. Under FoIA, the ‘public interest’ is not the same as what might be of interest to the public. In balancing the public interest in disclosure, we consider the greater good or benefit to the community as a whole if the information is released or not. The ‘right to know’ must be balanced against the need to enable effective government and to serve the best interests of the public.
There is a clear public interest in the release of information that helps demonstrate the work of public bodies involved in helping vulnerable members of society. To help facilitate this understanding, there is a justifiable public interest in placing into the public domain information that would allow the public to assess the nature of the assistance in place, and related costs. Transparency around these arrangements will generate confidence in the integrity of the processes involved. This interest is partially met by the disclosure of the costs and the remainder of the information requested.
The GLA is also mindful of the assumption in favour of disclosure in 2(2)(b) the FOIA. Conversely the disclosure of this same information would be likely to increase the risk of incidents (as evidenced in the media*) if made public and seen by those intent on causing harm. It is not in the public interest to release information that could be directly used to harm or plan harm to the public.
Once section 38 is engaged and it has been established that there is a real and actual danger to someone’s health and safety, it is difficult to find favour in disclosure. The information withheld from disclosure is not key to understanding the overall allocation and expenditure. We have determined that safeguarding the safety of the public attending the events is of paramount importance and the public interest favours maintaining the exemption provisions of s.38(1)(b) in relation the redacted and withheld information.
If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact the GLA, quoting the reference MGLA101024-2629.
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