FOI 50-25: Information regarding the dry-cleaning service in place at Parliament Buildings

Information Standards Freedom of Information Response

12 September 2025
Our ref: FoI 50-25

Freedom of Information Act 2000

I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 18 August 2025 in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). In your request, you asked for:

“Under FOI, can I request the below information related to the dry-cleaning service which is in place at Parliament buildings in Stormont.

• Is the dry-cleaning service at Stormont run by Assembly staff or by an outside contractor?
• If the latter, can you include details of the contract agreed between the Assembly and the contractor.
• Can you include the most recent price list available to elected members for this service?
• Is the dry-cleaning service subsidised for members, and if so, how much?”

Our response

Question 1

There was a dry-cleaning service available in the Parliament Buildings gift shop until late 2020¹, it was operated independently by a local dry-cleaning business. It was not part of the Assembly Commission’s Support Services contract, which manages catering and cleaning services, including the Gift Shop, at Parliament Buildings. The service was discontinued by the local dry-cleaning business as it was not economically viable.

¹ It is not possible to provide an exact date, as the current Support Services provider, which manages the Gift Shop, was not contracted by the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission in 2020 and therefore does not have access to records prior to their contract starting in January 2023.

Question 2

As noted in the response to Question 1, there was no contract between the Assembly Commission and the dry-cleaning business.

Question 3

The most recent available price list, dated October 2020, is provided at Appendix A. Note that as in response to Question 1, the dry-cleaning business discontinued this service in late 2020.

Question 4

The dry-cleaning service was not subsidised for Members. It was operated independently by a local dry-cleaning business and was also available to all building users.

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 sincerely

INFORMATION STANDARDS

Appendix A

Most recent price list provided by the dry-cleaning business / October 2020

Dry Cleaning Service

Drop off

Before Tuesday, collect on Thursday

Before Thursday, collect on Tuesday

Please note payment is required at the time of dropping off your garments.