NMWM16390 - Disclosure of information: telephone enquiries received from Members of Parliament
Members of Parliament (including those from the European Parliament and Devolved Assemblies) will occasionally telephone to make enquiries on behalf of their constituent. Historically this has tended to be mainly in connection with claims for tax credits but the following guidance applies equally to all parts of HM Revenue & Customs (NMWM02030).
Where a Member of Parliament telephones for information regarding a constituent they should:
- be advised that HM Revenue & Customs cannot legally disclose any information about a customer without evidence of that customer’s express consent, and
- be requested to write, on their headed notepaper, to the office stating:
- the name and address of their constituent, and
- the matter that they wish to discuss.
On receipt of the letter you can assume that the customer has given implied consent for you to disclose relevant details to the Member of Parliament (NMWM16380). You may then telephone the Member of Parliament and discuss the case. Care should be taken to restrict your discussions to the customer and matters detailed in the authorising letter from the Member of Parliament and not to disclose information about any other person or matter.