Troughgate: caught out by information

Picture credit: h.koppdelaney

Information has played a vital role in the raging furore over MPs expenses.

The whole thing began a few years ago, with newspaper attempts to obtain details of expenses by using the Freedom of Information Act; an initiative that did not go down well with many of our elected representatives.

They [MPs] subsequently fought tooth and nail to preserve their privacy about how they spend large sums of our money. Eventually, though, the legal system prevailed and MPs faced the prospect of greater transparency – and the potential embarrassment over their past behaviour.

If things had taken their natural course, Parliament would have published the historical expenses data, although probably heavily redacted, during the Summer. However the Daily Telegraph obtained the raw data and upset the apple cart.

The very same processes that have led to MPs being ‘caught out’ by information can help to prevent the problem persisting, providing the new ‘system’ is properly constituted and managed.

difference between data and information

“Troughgate” was an object lesson in the difference between data and information. Through detailed analysis and by applying additional context to the data, the Telegraph created some damning information.

For example, by taking the raw details of an MP’s claim for mortgage interest relief and comparing the property records at the Land Registry the journalists quickly noticed simple – but damning – discrepancies, i.e. the facts did not support the claim.

Likewise the otherwise plausible data that allowed an MP to declare, for expenses purposes, a property as a secondary home did not always tally with the information provided by the MP to the Inland Revenue, for tax purposes.

the obvious but unanswered question

All credit to the Telegraph for exposing this seeming abuse. But it does beg the [obvious but previously unposed] question: why didn’t the Parliamentary Fees Office expenses system include the sort of rudimentary checks made by the newspaper?

I’ll tell you why –  the Fees Office, like many other bodies, have been focused on data processing, rather than information. Data may well be plausible but might not stand up to rudimentary, let alone rigorous, examination once translated into information.

checks and balances

Now that the cat is out of the bag, strenuous efforts will be made to improve ‘the system’ notwithstanding that the present rules are perfectly adequate, in my view. Just very badly managed.

The primary system failure of MPs expenses has been the absence of effective checks and balances – a fundamental necessity of every effective information system.

I believe this debacle provides clear evidence for the necessity and benefits of properly joined-up management for a joined-up world. Do you think that the lessons really will be learned?

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