FOI 75-26 A request for information on the use of halal certified chicken in meals served in Parliament Buildings

Information Standards Freedom of Information Response

Our ref : FOI 75-26

21 October 2026

Freedom of Information Act 2000

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 5 October 2026 under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). In your request, you asked:

“I would like to ask for information on use of halal-certified chicken in general meals served in cafes/canteens/restaurants in Parliament Buildings. This is not about meals for those who specifically request halal-certified chicken. It is about whether it is served in general meals for all customers.”

Our response

Whilst providing catering services throughout Parliament Buildings, the Assembly Commission strives to meet the differing demands of special dietary needs of our wide customer base and the service provider is required to provide various dietary options based on, for example, diabetic, low salt, allergies, intolerances, ethnic, religious and others such as vegetarian and vegan diets that may be requested from time to time.

The Assembly Commission’s current service provider’s meat suppliers have confirmed that all chicken fillets are certified Halal as standard.

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 4th Floor, No 3 Circle Square, 5 Hawkshaw Street, Manchester, M1 7BL.
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