Medical and scientific evidence used by the Stormont Executive to come to a decision to implement regulations and the coronavirus act

Information Standards Freedom of Information Response

Our Ref: FoI 39-21

22 September 2021

Freedom of Information Act 2000

I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) does not hold the information, which you requested on 6September 2021.  In your request you asked for the following information:

“I wish to apply under the freedom of information act for whatever medical and scientific evidence that was used by the Stormont executive to come to a decision to implement these rules, regulations and the coronavirus act. This would be evidence of the safety and efficacy of the cloth masks which were recommended by the executive. The scientific and medical evidence of the efficacy and safety of the social distancing policies.

The medical and scientific evidence used to introduce the track and trace systems.

And the medical and scientific evidence of the COVID-19 virus having being isolated in a scientific laboratory to confirm its existence. This is the evidence used to close businesses, schools, drs surgeries and cancel much needed operations which led to a huge increase in underlying health conditions going untreated and a huge rise in financial and emotional distress causing an influx in mental health issues in an already arguably high mental health crisis in the country.”

This information is not held by the Assembly Commission. Information regarding the Northern Ireland government is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive. The Northern Ireland Assembly is a separate entity to the Northern Ireland Executive. Please find contact details for the Northern Ireland Executive and the individual Departments by clicking on this link.

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.

The Assembly Commission may publish details of your FOI request and our official response within the organisational disclosure log. The request will be completely anonymised and you will not be identified in any way. This is to meet the requirements as laid out by in the agreed publication scheme with the Information Commissioners’ Office.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me.  Please remember to quote the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

INFORMATION STANDARDS