FOI 59-22: Breakdown of flights and costs for Members who attended the Lying-In-State

Information Standards Freedom of Information Response

Our Ref: FoI 59-22

21 November 2022

Freedom of Information Act 2000

I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 25 October 2022.  In your request you asked for the following information:

“I would like to make a Freedom of Information request as I understand that 18 MLAs claimed over £16,000 of taxpayers money to view the queen lying in state. I understand that over £14,000 of this was spent on flights.  Under the FOI act, I would like the following information:

    • A full and comprehensive breakdown of flight costs per MLA. This should include the airline, the cost of the flight each way and the name of the MLA claiming the expenses.”

Please find attached at Appendix A, the information held by the Assembly Commission in relation to this request.

In order to provide advice and assistance, there have been several Freedom of Information requests already submitted in relation to this topic. You may wish to view the other questions and the answers already provided by viewing the Assembly Commission Disclosure Log.

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 flights for MLAs attending the Lying in State was £4,471.59.

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 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 anonymized 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

 

Appendix A

MemberAirlineReturn/Single Flight Cost (£)

Alex Easton

Easyjet

Single

113.99

Alex Easton

British Airways

Single

               168.31

Brian Kingston

British Airways

Return

               352.97

David Brooks

British Airways

Return

               352.97

Emma Little-Pengelly

British Airways

Single

               168.31

Gary Middleton

British Airways

Return

               352.97

Gordon Lyons*

Easyjet

Single

               113.99

Gordon Lyons*

British Airways

Single

               227.09

John Stewart

British Airways

Return

               359.05

Jonathan Buckley

Easyjet

Single

               113.99

Maurice Bradley

British Airways

Return

               352.97

Philip Brett

British Airways

Return

               352.97

Robert Butler

British Airways

Return

               359.05

Robin Swann

British Airways

Return

               359.05

Stephen Dunne

British Airways

Return

               352.97

Thomas Buchanan

British Airways

Return

               352.97

William Irwin

British Airways

Return

               359.05

 

 

Total Cost

4813.67

 

*Mr Lyons reimbursed the cost of the flights to the Assembly Commission, therefore these costs have been deducted from the overall total.

Gordon Lyons Contribution to the NI Consolidated Fund: £341.08


Net Cost: Total Cost (£4813.67) - Gordon Lyons Contribution (£341.08) = £4,471.59

Find MLAs

Find your MLAs

Locate MLAs

Search

News and Media Centre

Visit the News and Media Centre

Read press releases, watch live and archived video

Find out more

Follow the Assembly

Follow the Assembly on our social media channels

Keep up-to-date with the Assembly

Find out more

Useful Contacts

Contact us

Contacts for different parts of the Assembly

Contact Us