FOI 47-22: Information in relation to the cost of Members attending the Lying in State of Queen Elizabeth II

Our Ref: FOI 47-22

20 October 2022

Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“FOIA”)

I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 16 September 2022 in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. In your request, you asked:

“Please provide me with the following information:

1. The total cost provided to MLAs attending the Queen's lying in State.

2. The names and parties of all MLAs who received public funding to attend the Queen's lying in State.

3. The breakdown, by MLA and party, of the funds claimed, and paid, Broken down by flights, hotel accommodation, subsistence, mileage, and Public transport.

4. The names and parties of MLAs who had priority access to the queue, i.e. who did not have to queue to attend the Queen's lying in State.

5. The source of the funding i.e. was it paid from the NI block grant, or Central UK budget.”

 

1. The total cost provided to MLAs attending the Queen's lying in State.

The travel arrangements for MLAs attending the Lying in State of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II were made and paid for by the Assembly Commission. The total cost of MLAs attending the Lying in State was £4,955.89.

 

2. The names and parties of all MLAs who received public funding to attend the Queen's lying in State.

The information requested has been provided at Appendix A.

 

3. The breakdown, by MLA and party, of the funds claimed, and paid, broken down by flights, hotel accommodation, subsistence, mileage, and public transport.

The information requested has been provided at Appendix B.

 

4. The names and parties of MLAs who had priority access to the queue, i.e. who did not have to queue to attend the Queen's lying in State.

All of the devolved administrations were given an allocation of invitations to attend the Lying in State of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  The information requested has been provided at Appendix C.

 

5. The source of the funding i.e. was it paid from the NI block grant, or central UK budget.

The travel arrangements for MLAs attending the Lying in State of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II were made and paid for by the Assembly Commission.

You have the right to request a formal review by the 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 may appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF which will undertake an independent review.

The Assembly Commission may publish details of your FOI request and its 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.

Yours sincerely

INFORMATION STANDARDS

 

Appendix A

MLA	Party
Alex Easton	N/A
Brian Kingston	DUP
David Brooks	DUP
Emma Little-Pengelly	DUP
Gary Middleton	DUP
John Stewart	UUP
Jonathan Buckley	DUP
Maurice Bradley	DUP
Philip Brett	DUP
Robbie Butler	UUP
Robin Swann	UUP
Stephen Dunne	DUP
Thomas Buchanan	DUP
William Irwin	DUP
Gordon Lyons*	DUP

* reimbursed

Appendix B

All figures are in £

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)

MLA	Flight Costs	Train Costs	Total Costs	MLA Contribution to the NI Consolidated Fund	Net Costs
Brian Kingston	352.97	37.00	389.97		389.97
David Brooks	352.97	37.00	389.97		389.97
Emma Little-Pengelly	168.31	25.00	193.31		193.31
Gary Middleton	352.97	37.00	389.97		389.97
Jonathan Buckley	113.99	13.65	127.64		127.64
Maurice Bradley	352.97	37.00	389.97		389.97
Philip Brett	352.97	37.00	389.97		389.97
Stephen Dunne	352.97	37.00	389.97		389.97
Thomas Buchanan	352.97	37.00	389.97		389.97
William Irwin	359.05	37.00	396.05		396.05
Gordon Lyons	341.08	38.65	379.73	379.73	0.00
Grand Total	3,453.22	373.30	3,826.52	379.73	3,446.79

 

Independent 

MLA	Flight Costs	Train Costs	Total Costs	Net Cost
Alex Easton	282.30	38.65	320.95	320.95
Grand Total	282.30	38.65	320.95	320.95

 

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)

MLA	Flight Costs	Train Costs	Total Costs	Net Cost
John Stewart	359.05	37.00	396.05	396.05
Robbie Butler	359.05	37.00	396.05	396.05
Robin Swann	359.05	37.00	396.05	396.05
Grand Total	1077.15	111.00	1,188.15	1,188.15