Speakers’ House

Information Standards Freedom of Information Response

Our Ref: FoI 18-20

24 March 2020

Freedom of Information Act 2000

I can confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission holds information relevant to your request of 03 March 2020.  In your request you asked for the following information:

"The number of occasions the Speaker’s House was occupied overnight between January 10 2017-January 10 2020;

The names of all those who resided overnight in the Speaker’s House and the corresponding number of nights they resided there between January 10 2017 January 10 2020;

The amount spent on a) energy; and b) cleaning for the Speaker’s House between January 10 2017-January 10 2020.”

Under the legislation the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission is not required to provide information that is already available in a form accessible by the public. Information relating to The Speaker’s Accommodation is therefore exempt under section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as the information is reasonably available by other means. This information is available on our website and can be accessed here.

Use and control of the official accommodation were transferred from the Assembly Commission to the Department of Finance in August 2016, following the notification of the then Speaker that he would not require use of the accommodation.  No costs were incurred during the period 10 January 2017 to 10 January 2020.

 

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

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