Speakers’ Accommodation
Information Standards Freedom of Information Response
Our Ref: FoI 15-20
18 March 2020
Freedom of Information Act 2000
I can confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission holds information relevant to your request of 21 February 2020. In your request you asked for the following information:
“Throughout the Speakership of Mr Robin Newton MLA:
- How many nights did the Speaker use the Speakers official accommodation
- the total cost of rent, rates and mortgage payments for the property
- How many bedrooms the property has
- the most recent valuation of the property
- the cost of electricity and heating for the property
- the cost of security for the property.”
Please see the information in relation to your request attached at Appendix A below.
If you feel that the information we have provided does not meet your request fully, please contact this office as soon as possible. You have the right to request a formal review by the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission and if you wish to do so, please write to me at the above address.
If after such an internal review you are still unhappy with the response, you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF who will undertake an independent review.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
INFORMATION STANDARDS & DATA PROTECTION OFFICER
Appendix A
The accommodation on the Stormont Estate that was previously used by Speakers who lived a considerable distance from Parliament Buildings is owned by the Department of Finance.
On taking up the office of Speaker on 12 May 2016, Mr Newton MLA informed officials that he would not require use of this accommodation. Arrangements were made for the use of the accommodation to revert from the Assembly Commission to the Executive. The costs included in this response were not related to the use of the property by Mr Newton MLA. They were the costs incurred by the Assembly Commission during the transitional period between Mr Newton MLA notifying the Assembly Commission that he would not use the property and the property’s subsequent use by the Executive.
The response to your specific queries posed are set out below.
“- How many nights did the Speaker use the Speakers official accommodation
Mr Newton did not use the official accommodation.
- the total cost of rent, rates and mortgage payments for the property
A rates payment of £1,268.93 was made in 2016-17.
- How many bedrooms the property has
The property has two bedrooms.
- the most recent valuation of the property
The Assembly Commission does not hold information relating to the value of the property.
- the cost of electricity and heating for the property
The cost of electricity was £280.53 in 2016-17.
- the cost of security for the property.”
The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission incurred no security costs.
