FOI 32-23: MLA expenses related to the Poppy Appeal from 1st Jan 2019 to 1st Nov 2023

Information Standards Freedom of Information Response

Our Ref: FOI 32-23

8 December 2023

Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“FOIA”)

I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 19 October 2023 in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. In your request, you asked:

“Just a few questions on MLA Expenses from 1st Jan 2019 to 1st Nov 2023.

If possible, could you give the information on a year-by-year basis, i.e. 1st Jan 2019-31st Dec 2019, 1st Jan 2020-31st Dec 2020, etc.?

How many MLAs have claimed expenses for items related to the Poppy Appeal (if any?) including donations?”

No MLAs have claimed expenses (including donations) in relation to any of the organisations or charities listed for 1 January 2019 to 1 November 2023.

MLAs may recover expenses under the provisions of the Assembly Members (Salaries and Expenses) Determination (Northern Ireland) 2016 (‘the Determination’) as amended by the Assembly Members (Salaries and Expenses) (Amendment) Determination (Northern Ireland) 2020. This has been further amended by the Assembly Members (Salaries and Expenses) (Period in which Assembly not functioning) Determination (Northern Ireland) 2022. 

The Determination not only sets the quantum of what MLAs can claim but also sets the rules on what is admissible. As stated in paragraph 7 (1) (b) an MLA is only entitled to recover an expense if –

“The expense was incurred in connection with the member’s exercise of functions as a member”.

Expenses related to such organisations, including donations, are not an admissible expense, as they are not related to an MLA carrying out their functions as a Member.

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