FOI - 61-25 - The list of costs to the Assembly Commission (which are not subject to a claim for reimbursement) for the Speaker and the Clerk/ Chief Executive relating to the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados
Information Standards Freedom of Information Response
15 December 2025
Our ref: FoI 61-25
Freedom of Information Act 2000
I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 13 October 2025 in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). Your request was as follows—
‘1. The full list of the costs and corresponding items, tickets and accommodation incurred by Speaker Edwin Poots traveling to and from the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados, including individual sustenance and incidental expenses claimed for;
2. The full list of the costs and corresponding items, tickets and accommodation incurred by chief executive Lesley Hogg traveling to and from the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados, including individual sustenance and incidental expenses claimed for;
3. A list other travel and accommodation costs (totalling more than £100) incurred by assembly staff and MLAs in the last calendar year, and the purpose of the trips.’
Our response
1. Appendix A itemises the list of costs to the Assembly Commission (which are not subject to a claim for reimbursement) for the Speaker and the Clerk/ Chief Executive relating to the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados. As the official delegate of the Northern Ireland Assembly Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the cost of the Speaker’s flights was reimbursed by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and was not a cost to the Assembly Commission.
2. Appendix B itemises the list of costs which have been submitted to the airline for reimbursement following the cancellation of the Speaker’s and the Clerk/ Chief Executive’s original flights to Barbados due to storm Amy.
3. The Finance Office holds some of the information requested. A table with this information is attached in Appendix C. It itemises all transport and accommodation costs incurred by Members and Assembly Commission staff, where the itemised cost was greater than £100, for trips taken with the period of 13 October 2024 to 12 October 2025.
Each cost line includes the trip reference (an internally generated reference number used to track travel bookings), the trip purpose, the number of travellers per line item, broken down into whether they were Members or Assembly Commission staff, the expense amount and the type of expense (transport or accommodation). Please note that the trip purpose category is recorded by Finance Office at the time of booking using a limited number of categories (Conference/Seminar, Committee Business, Assembly Business).
It should be noted that the trips listed in the table are those for which all credit card statements pertaining to them have been received and reconciled. A number of other trips from the last few weeks of the requested period have not been included as those credit card statements are outstanding and costs are not finalised.
Further Information
You may 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 – Costs Being Met by the Assembly Commission in Relation to the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.
|
Traveller |
Expense Type |
Amount £ |
|
Speaker |
Accommodation |
1,058.44 |
|
|
Meals |
85.42 |
|
|
Transport |
445.80 |
|
|
|
|
|
Clerk/Chief Executive |
Flights |
783.11 |
|
|
Accommodation |
1,303.18 |
|
|
Meals |
85.42 |
|
|
Transport |
39.79 |
|
|
Parking |
105.99 |
Appendix B - Costs in Relation to the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference Submitted for Reimbursement by the Airline Following the Cancellation of Original Flights due to Storm Amy.
|
Traveller |
Expense Type
|
Amount Submitted for Reimbursement £ |
|
Speaker |
Accommodation |
327.40 |
|
|
Meal |
23.80 |
|
|
|
|
|
Clerk/Chief Executive |
Flights |
1549.89 |
|
|
Accommodation |
336.20 |
|
|
Meal |
23.80 |
|
|
Transport |
11.00 |
|
|
ESTA |
30.68 |
Appendix C - all transport and accommodation costs incurred by Members and Assembly Commission staff, where the itemised cost was greater than £100, for trips taken with the period of 13 October 2024 to 12 October 2025.
|
Trip Ref |
Trip Purpose |
No. Travellers per item |
Expense < £100 |
Expense Type |
|
|
Commission Staff |
Members |
||||
|
1817 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
103.96 |
Transport |
|
1817 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
528.75 |
Accommodation |
|
1819 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
234.45 |
Accommodation |
|
1821 |
Assembly Business |
2 |
|
230.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1822 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
122.43 |
Transport |
|
1823 |
Committee Business |
|
1 |
131.66 |
Transport |
|
1823 |
Committee Business |
|
1 |
169.12 |
Transport |
|
1823 |
Committee Business |
1 |
|
187.58 |
Accommodation |
|
1823 |
Committee Business |
|
1 |
187.59 |
Accommodation |
|
1823 |
Committee Business |
1 |
|
195.96 |
Transport |
|
1823 |
Committee Business |
4 |
|
279.01 |
Accommodation |
|
1823 |
Committee Business |
2 |
|
412.69 |
Transport |
|
1823 |
Committee Business |
|
6 |
418.51 |
Accommodation |
|
1823 |
Committee Business |
|
4 |
825.39 |
Transport |
|
1823 |
Committee Business |
3 |
|
1,125.51 |
Accommodation |
|
1823 |
Committee Business |
|
5 |
1,875.84 |
Accommodation |
|
1825 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
121.95 |
Accommodation |
|
1825 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
142.98 |
Transport |
|
1827 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
436.02 |
Accommodation |
|
1827 |
Conference/ Seminar |
4 |
|
472.05 |
Transport |
|
1827 |
Conference/ Seminar |
7 |
|
1,622.49 |
Accommodation |
|
1830 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
- 686.75 |
Accommodation |
|
1830 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
706.17 |
Accommodation |
|
1830 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
1,405.99 |
Accommodation |
|
1830 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
1,405.99 |
Accommodation |
|
1830 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
6,076.05 |
Transport |
|
1830 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
4,712.05 |
Transport |
|
1833 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
322.50 |
Accommodation |
|
1835 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
339.06 |
Accommodation |
|
1835 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
353.44 |
Accommodation |
|
1835 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
483.80 |
Accommodation |
|
1835 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
5,901.35 |
Transport |
|
1836 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
111.98 |
Transport |
|
1836 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
193.33 |
Accommodation |
|
1837 |
Committee Business |
|
1 |
- 215.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1837 |
Committee Business |
|
7 |
108.96 |
Transport |
|
1837 |
Committee Business |
4 |
|
108.96 |
Transport |
|
1837 |
Committee Business |
|
7 |
163.44 |
Transport |
|
1837 |
Committee Business |
|
7 |
163.44 |
Transport |
|
1837 |
Committee Business |
4 |
|
342.48 |
Transport |
|
1837 |
Committee Business |
|
7 |
599.34 |
Transport |
|
1837 |
Committee Business |
4 |
|
860.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1837 |
Committee Business |
|
6 |
1,505.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1838 |
Committee Business |
1 |
|
191.27 |
Transport |
|
1838 |
Committee Business |
|
1 |
191.27 |
Transport |
|
1838 |
Committee Business |
1 |
|
218.45 |
Transport |
|
1838 |
Committee Business |
2 |
|
585.62 |
Accommodation |
|
1838 |
Committee Business |
|
4 |
873.81 |
Transport |
|
1838 |
Committee Business |
|
5 |
1,464.05 |
Accommodation |
|
1839 |
Conference/ Seminar |
3 |
|
140.97 |
Transport |
|
1839 |
Conference/ Seminar |
3 |
|
281.01 |
Transport |
|
1839 |
Conference/ Seminar |
4 |
|
289.96 |
Accommodation |
|
1841 |
Conference/ Seminar |
4 |
|
135.92 |
Transport |
|
1841 |
Conference/ Seminar |
4 |
|
525.68 |
Accommodation |
|
1842 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
231.49 |
Transport |
|
1842 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
231.49 |
Transport |
|
1843 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
127.59 |
Transport |
|
1843 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
269.98 |
Accommodation |
|
1844 |
Conference/ Seminar |
2 |
|
135.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1844 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
139.59 |
Transport |
|
1844 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
146.59 |
Transport |
|
1845 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
219.52 |
Accommodation |
|
1846 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
120.49 |
Accommodation |
|
1847 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
133.46 |
Transport |
|
1847 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
246.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1848 |
Conference/ Seminar |
2 |
|
216.84 |
Transport |
|
1848 |
Conference/ Seminar |
2 |
|
386.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1849 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
121.63 |
Transport |
|
1849 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
199.96 |
Accommodation |
|
1850 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
120.99 |
Accommodation |
|
1850 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
191.66 |
Accommodation |
|
1851 |
Conference/ Seminar |
|
1 |
189.99 |
Accommodation |
|
1855 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
313.96 |
Transport |
|
1855 |
Conference/ Seminar |
|
1 |
313.96 |
Transport |
|
1856 |
Conference/ Seminar |
2 |
|
135.92 |
Transport |
|
1857 |
Training |
1 |
|
158.34 |
Accommodation |
|
1857 |
Training |
1 |
|
163.33 |
Accommodation |
|
1857 |
Training |
4 |
|
287.92 |
Transport |
|
1857 |
Training |
4 |
|
633.36 |
Accommodation |
|
1858 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
- 177.50 |
Accommodation |
|
1858 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
265.13 |
Accommodation |
|
1858 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
265.13 |
Accommodation |
|
1858 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
265.14 |
Accommodation |
|
1858 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
514.20 |
Transport |
|
1858 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
514.20 |
Transport |
|
1858 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
2,461.10 |
Transport |
|
1858 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
2,461.10 |
Transport |
|
1858 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
2,461.10 |
Transport |
|
1860 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
168.98 |
Transport |
|
1860 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
171.99 |
Accommodation |
|
1861 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
124.08 |
Transport |
|
1861 |
Conference/ Seminar |
|
1 |
124.08 |
Transport |
|
1861 |
Conference/ Seminar |
|
1 |
229.08 |
Transport |
|
1861 |
Conference/ Seminar |
|
1 |
292.98 |
Transport |
|
1861 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
603.49 |
Accommodation |
|
1861 |
Conference/ Seminar |
|
1 |
603.49 |
Accommodation |
|
1861 |
Conference/ Seminar |
|
1 |
654.27 |
Accommodation |
|
1864 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
204.77 |
Transport |
|
1864 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
240.84 |
Accommodation |
|
1865 |
Conference/ Seminar |
4 |
|
117.92 |
Transport |
|
1865 |
Conference/ Seminar |
3 |
|
521.10 |
Accommodation |
|
1866 |
Committee Business |
|
4 |
- 600.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1866 |
Committee Business |
|
1 |
150.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1866 |
Committee Business |
4 |
|
600.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1866 |
Committee Business |
|
9 |
1,350.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1867 |
Committee Business |
|
1 |
- 389.96 |
Accommodation |
|
1867 |
Committee Business |
|
1 |
- 186.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1867 |
Committee Business |
|
2 |
109.07 |
Transport |
|
1867 |
Committee Business |
|
2 |
128.00 |
Transport |
|
1867 |
Committee Business |
|
2 |
133.30 |
Transport |
|
1867 |
Committee Business |
|
4 |
218.13 |
Transport |
|
1867 |
Committee Business |
|
4 |
256.00 |
Transport |
|
1867 |
Committee Business |
|
4 |
266.60 |
Transport |
|
1867 |
Committee Business |
|
2 |
310.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1867 |
Committee Business |
|
4 |
620.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1867 |
Committee Business |
|
2 |
801.89 |
Accommodation |
|
1867 |
Committee Business |
|
4 |
1,603.77 |
Accommodation |
|
1868 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
167.96 |
Transport |
|
1868 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
170.82 |
Accommodation |
|
1869 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
164.17 |
Accommodation |
|
1869 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
225.46 |
Transport |
|
1870 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
313.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1870 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
313.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1870 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
425.46 |
Transport |
|
1870 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
425.46 |
Transport |
|
1871 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
338.60 |
Transport |
|
1872 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
198.27 |
Transport |
|
1872 |
Conference/ Seminar |
4 |
|
793.08 |
Transport |
|
1874 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
243.05 |
Transport |
|
1874 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
485.83 |
Accommodation |
|
1875 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
407.55 |
Accommodation |
|
1875 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
407.55 |
Accommodation |
|
1875 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
465.44 |
Transport |
|
1875 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
465.44 |
Transport |
|
1877 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
120.00 |
Transport |
|
1877 |
Conference/ Seminar |
|
1 |
128.94 |
Transport |
|
1877 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
257.88 |
Transport |
|
1878 |
Other |
1 |
|
213.70 |
Transport |
|
1878 |
Other |
1 |
|
519.59 |
Transport |
|
1878 |
Other |
1 |
|
809.24 |
Transport |
|
1878 |
Other |
|
4 |
854.80 |
Transport |
|
1878 |
Other |
|
4 |
2,078.35 |
Transport |
|
1878 |
Other |
|
4 |
3,236.95 |
Transport |
|
1879 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
498.60 |
Transport |
|
1880 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
286.66 |
Transport |
|
1881 |
Committee Business |
1 |
|
217.49 |
Accommodation |
|
1881 |
Committee Business |
|
1 |
217.49 |
Accommodation |
|
1881 |
Committee Business |
1 |
|
217.49 |
Accommodation |
|
1881 |
Committee Business |
|
1 |
307.66 |
Transport |
|
1881 |
Committee Business |
1 |
|
427.41 |
Transport |
|
1881 |
Committee Business |
1 |
|
671.27 |
Transport |
|
1881 |
Committee Business |
1 |
|
671.27 |
Transport |
|
1881 |
Committee Business |
|
1 |
671.27 |
Transport |
|
1883 |
Conference/ Seminar |
2 |
|
157.96 |
Transport |
|
1883 |
Conference/ Seminar |
2 |
|
331.66 |
Accommodation |
|
1884 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
140.97 |
Transport |
|
1884 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
140.97 |
Transport |
|
1884 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
140.97 |
Transport |
|
1884 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
169.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1884 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
169.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1884 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
169.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1885 |
Assembly Business |
4 |
|
160.00 |
Transport |
|
1885 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
422.40 |
Accommodation |
|
1885 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
455.52 |
Transport |
|
1885 |
Assembly Business |
4 |
|
894.08 |
Transport |
|
1885 |
Assembly Business |
4 |
|
1,991.20 |
Accommodation |
|
1886 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
204.67 |
Accommodation |
|
1888 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
393.33 |
Accommodation |
|
1888 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
434.52 |
Transport |
|
1889 |
Assembly Business |
|
1 |
187.76 |
Accommodation |
|
1890 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
- 155.00 |
Accommodation |
|
1890 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
115.48 |
Transport |
|
1890 |
Assembly Business |
1 |
|
331.67 |
Accommodation |
|
1891 |
Committee Business |
2 |
|
249.92 |
Transport |
|
1891 |
Committee Business |
2 |
|
1,205.68 |
Accommodation |
|
1892 |
Conference/ Seminar |
|
1 |
702.40 |
Transport |
|
1892 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
783.11 |
Transport |
|
1893 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
112.48 |
Transport |
|
1894 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
296.52 |
Transport |
|
1894 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
403.30 |
Accommodation |
|
1895 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
159.46 |
Transport |
|
1895 |
Conference/ Seminar |
4 |
|
213.50 |
Transport |
|
1895 |
Conference/ Seminar |
4 |
|
527.92 |
Transport |
|
1895 |
Conference/ Seminar |
5 |
|
999.95 |
Transport |
|
1896 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
135.98 |
Transport |
|
1896 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
165.98 |
Transport |
|
1896 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
199.99 |
Accommodation |
|
1896 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
199.99 |
Accommodation |
|
1897 |
Conference/ Seminar |
1 |
|
448.98 |
Transport |
