Thank you for your request. It has been received by the Parliamentary Information Service. This Service responds to information requests from the public which relate to all aspects of the New Zealand Parliament.

We will reply to your request within the next three working days.
____________________________________________________________

Parliamentary Information Service
Parliamentary Service, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

T: [04] 817 9647
E: [Parliamentary Service request email] W: www.parliament.nz
____________________________________________________________

-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Hatton [mailto:[OIA #343 email]]
Sent: Wednesday, 6 June 2012 9:20 p.m.
To: Parliamentary Information Service
Subject: Official Information Act request - the tax status of MP's claim for rent payments

Dear Parliamentary Service, I would like to know whether Members of
parliament pay tax on rent payments made on their behalf for
properties that they inhabit when in Wellington.

Yours faithfully,

Matthew Hatton

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Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[OIA #343 email]

Is [Parliamentary Service request email] the wrong address for Official
Information Act requests to Parliamentary Service? If so, please
contact us using this form:
http://fyi.org.nz/help/contact

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
http://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an OIA officer, please ask your
web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

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Hi Matthew

Our understanding is that the Parliamentary Service Communications Manager has made several attempts to reply to your query via the FYI.org.nz facility provided but without success. She has also endeavoured to contact FYI to report the problem but has had no response from them. If this reply reaches you, we would suggest you provide a personal working email address so we can ensure that the answer to your query gets through.

Just to clarify further, the Parliamentary Service is not presently covered by the Official Information Act so the legal obligation you assert is incorrect. However the Service is happy to answer your query provided we are actually able to make contact.

Kind regards
____________________________________________________________

Parliamentary Information Service
Parliamentary Service, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

T: [04] 817 9647
E: [Parliamentary Service request email] W: www.parliament.nz
____________________________________________________________

-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Hatton [mailto:[OIA #343 email]]
Sent: Friday, 6 July 2012 1:11 p.m.
To: Parliamentary Information Service
Subject: Internal review of Official Information Act request - the tax status of MP's claim for rent payments

Dear Parliamentary Information Service,

The answer to my request regarding the tax status of rent payments
to Members of parliament was due 4th July, 1012. This date has
passed and I have not recieved the information. This is contrary to
the law. Please process my request immediately.

Yours sincerely,

Matthew Hatton

-----Original Message-----

Thank you for your request. It has been received by the
Parliamentary Information Service. This Service responds to
information requests from the public which relate to all aspects of
the New Zealand Parliament.

We will reply to your request within the next three working days.
____________________________________________________________

Parliamentary Information Service
Parliamentary Service, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New
Zealand

T: [04] 817 9647
E: [Parliamentary Service request email] W: www.parliament.nz
____________________________________________________________

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[OIA #343 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
http://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an OIA officer, please ask your
web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

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hide quoted sections

Dear Mr Hatton,
 
In response to your question (see below in italics)  Parliamentary Service
is currently not subject to the Official Information Act.   However, in
the ‘spirit‘ of the Act I would add that Members do not pay tax on the
cost of the accommodation they inhabit when in Wellington.
 
Kind regards
 
Diana