FOI 08-25: Information regarding any assistance provided by the Bills Office to Eoin Tennyson MLA in preparation for his ‘Conversion Practices’ proposals
Information Standards Freedom of Information Response
13 February 2025
Our Ref: FoI 08-25
Freedom of Information Act 2000
I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 16 January 2025 in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). In your request, you asked the following-
"1. Has any assistance been provided by the Bills Office to Eoin Tennyson MLA in preparation for his 'Conversion Practices' proposals announced late last year?
2. If so, what was the nature of this assistance?
3. Can you estimate the amount of time that has been given in providing this assistance?
4. Can you please send me copies of any correspondence between Eoin Tennyson MLA and the Bill Office relating to 'conversion practices' or 'conversion therapy'?"
Our response
The Assembly Commission holds some information relevant to your request.
Question 1
Yes. Members can be supported in the development of Member's Bills by the Assembly Commission Member Bill Development Unit (MBDU). Mr Tennyson is developing a Member's Bill on conversion practices with the support of the MBDU.
Question 2
MBDU will routinely seek input from the Assembly Commission's Legal Services Office and Research and Information Service in providing advice and support to those using the MBDU service.
MBDU support includes (i) procedural advice (ii) advice on consultation, (iii) obtaining legal advice, (iv) obtaining research briefing and (v) liaison with parliamentary agents. Mr Tennyson has to date utilised services (i) - (iv).
Question 3
The Assembly Commission does not hold this information.
Question 4
The Assembly Commission holds information relevant to this question. The Assembly Commission has identified that some or all of this information is likely to be subject to one or more qualified or absolute exemptions set out in Part 2 of the FOIA.
Section 10(3) of the FOIA allows an authority to extend the 20-working day limit up to a reasonable time in any case where;
- It requires more time to determine where or not the balance of the public interest lies in maintaining an exemption; or
- Whether it needs further time to consider whether it would be in the public interest to confirm or deny whether the information is held.
The Assembly Commission proposes to reply to question 4 in approximately 10 working days: that is, by 27 February 2025.
Further Information
You have the right to request an internal review of this decision by the Assembly Commission. If you wish to request such a review, please write to me at the above address. If, after that review, you are dissatisfied with the way in which the Assembly Commission has handled your request for information, you may complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Your request for information and our response may be published in the disclosure log maintained by the Assembly Commission under a publication scheme agreed with the ICO. The request and our response will be anonymised.
Yours faithfully
INFORMATION STANDARDS
