MPs lose bid to keep second home expenses secret

The Houses of Parliament are seen November 6, 2007.

LONDON (Reuters) - Members of Parliament must disclose details of expenses claimed for second homes and their location, the High Court ruled on Friday.

House of Commons authorities had sought to block the publication of second-home expense claims for 14 current and former MPs -- including Tony Blair and Gordon Brown -- requested under the Freedom of Information Act.

The court said there would be a stay on the release of the expense claim details until next Friday to give MPs time to decide whether to appeal.

It had been argued on behalf of the politicians that publication of the addresses of second homes would pose a security risk and could inhibit what politicians would be prepared to say publicly.

"The reality is that an individual who is determined to discover a residential address of an adult law-abiding citizen is likely to be able to do so by one legal means or another," said Igor Judge, one of the country's senior judges.

"And where the person concerned is the holder of a public office and in the public eye, such an enquiry is likely to be easier," he told the High Court, saying there was a "legitimate public interest" in publishing the expense claims.

MPs with constituencies outside London can claim up to 23,000 pounds each year for second homes.