Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Duncan of Springbank on 15 July (HL17173, HL17174, and HL17175), whether a decision was made to remove images of the Royal Family in Stormont House; if so, who made that decision; and whether any Northern Ireland Office ministers intend to review that policy.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
Any compensation payments would be accounted for by the Northern Ireland Office in line with the guidance in Managing Public Money. Individual payments of more than the threshold required under Managing Public Money would be noted separately. Any compensation paid in respect of litigation would be determined with reference to legal advice.
In line with previous responses, the Northern Ireland Office will keep its obligations under review to ensure its requirements under fair employment legislation are met.
As I answered previously, information on employees’ personal data is sensitive, in order to comply with DPA requirements, and so I am unable to comment further.
Images displayed in Stormont House are refreshed at regular intervals. Current images displayed reflect the culture and landscapes of Northern Ireland. These are in keeping with the rest of the building decor. We have no plans to review this policy.
Royal portraits hang on public display at Hillsborough Castle, and also in the London Office occupied by the Northern Ireland Office. Other pictures of the Queen are displayed at Stormont House.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Duncan of Springbank on 15 July (HL17173, HL17174, and HL17175), how levels of any compensation paid to civil servants for alleged offences caused by the display of images of the Royal Family in publicly funded buildings are calculated.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
Any compensation payments would be accounted for by the Northern Ireland Office in line with the guidance in Managing Public Money. Individual payments of more than the threshold required under Managing Public Money would be noted separately. Any compensation paid in respect of litigation would be determined with reference to legal advice.
In line with previous responses, the Northern Ireland Office will keep its obligations under review to ensure its requirements under fair employment legislation are met.
As I answered previously, information on employees’ personal data is sensitive, in order to comply with DPA requirements, and so I am unable to comment further.
Images displayed in Stormont House are refreshed at regular intervals. Current images displayed reflect the culture and landscapes of Northern Ireland. These are in keeping with the rest of the building decor. We have no plans to review this policy.
Royal portraits hang on public display at Hillsborough Castle, and also in the London Office occupied by the Northern Ireland Office. Other pictures of the Queen are displayed at Stormont House.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any Northern Irish civil servants received compensation for offence caused by portraits of the Royal Family; if so, how many; and in each case, how much compensation was awarded.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Northern Ireland Office takes its responsibilities under Fair Employment legislation very seriously and seeks to ensure a good and harmonious working environment for all staff; the requirements of which are set out in the 1989 Fair Employment Code of Practice.
In line with the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland’s Guide, Promoting a Good and Harmonious Working Environment, the Northern Ireland Office is sensitive to the display of “posters, pictures, portraits or other displays that are more closely associated with one or other of the communities” and will consider any concerns raised by employees. I can confirm that the department takes steps to ensure no such images are displayed in Stormont House
Information on employees’ personal data is sensitive, in order to comply with DPA requirements, and so I am unable to comment further. In line with the rest of the Civil Service, our staff need to be able to raise concerns in a confidential manner and without fear of repercussions.
In relation to the Northern Ireland Assembly, I would refer the noble Lord to the Clerk/ Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received any reports that civil servants in Northern Ireland have been offended by portraits of the Royal Family in (1) the Northern Ireland Office, and (2) the Northern Ireland Assembly; and if so, how many civil servants have made such complaints.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Northern Ireland Office takes its responsibilities under Fair Employment legislation very seriously and seeks to ensure a good and harmonious working environment for all staff; the requirements of which are set out in the 1989 Fair Employment Code of Practice.
In line with the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland’s Guide, Promoting a Good and Harmonious Working Environment, the Northern Ireland Office is sensitive to the display of “posters, pictures, portraits or other displays that are more closely associated with one or other of the communities” and will consider any concerns raised by employees. I can confirm that the department takes steps to ensure no such images are displayed in Stormont House
Information on employees’ personal data is sensitive, in order to comply with DPA requirements, and so I am unable to comment further. In line with the rest of the Civil Service, our staff need to be able to raise concerns in a confidential manner and without fear of repercussions.
In relation to the Northern Ireland Assembly, I would refer the noble Lord to the Clerk/ Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria are used to determine which portraits are displayed or removed in (1) the Northern Ireland Office, and (2) the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Northern Ireland Office takes its responsibilities under Fair Employment legislation very seriously and seeks to ensure a good and harmonious working environment for all staff; the requirements of which are set out in the 1989 Fair Employment Code of Practice.
In line with the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland’s Guide, Promoting a Good and Harmonious Working Environment, the Northern Ireland Office is sensitive to the display of “posters, pictures, portraits or other displays that are more closely associated with one or other of the communities” and will consider any concerns raised by employees. I can confirm that the department takes steps to ensure no such images are displayed in Stormont House
Information on employees’ personal data is sensitive, in order to comply with DPA requirements, and so I am unable to comment further. In line with the rest of the Civil Service, our staff need to be able to raise concerns in a confidential manner and without fear of repercussions.
In relation to the Northern Ireland Assembly, I would refer the noble Lord to the Clerk/ Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to issue a formal response following the publication of the final report of the independent public inquiry into the Non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland awaits the publication of the final report of the independent public inquiry into the Non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme. She will respond in due course.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made an estimate of the total value to the Northern Ireland economy of the 2019 Open Championship being hosted at Royal Portrush Golf Club in July.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
Tourism in Northern Ireland is going from strength to strength, with more visitors who stayed longer and spend more than ever before. Tourism Northern Ireland expects up to 190,000 spectators will attend the 2019 Open Championship and estimate the benefit to the Northern Ireland economy from hosting this highly prestigious event will be £80m.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much of the additional financial support allocated to Northern Ireland as a direct result of the confidence and supply agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party (1) has been spent, and (2) remains to be spent.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
Alongside the Confidence & Supply Agreement, the UK Government has committed to providing £1 billion of additional funding to Northern Ireland departments. A total of £430 million from the financial annex to the Confidence and Supply Agreement has been allocated to the Northern Ireland block grant. The remaining £570 million has not yet been allocated and would be subject to Parliament’s approval through the usual Estimates process.
Further details on funding allocations are set out in the financial annex to the Confidence and Supply Agreement at:
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they plan to have, and with whom, about the release of £36.2 million of funding to develop regional football grounds in Northern Ireland which was previously approved by the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act provides for the increased clarity and assurance to enable Northern Ireland departments to continue to exercise their functions to take decisions where these are in the public interest.
The funding to develop regional football grounds in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter, and Northern Ireland Office officials have engaged with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Department for Communities. The department remains committed to delivering this programme and will seek decisions from incoming Ministers.
These decisions should be taken by a fully functioning devolved government in Northern Ireland, and it remains the Government’s priority to work towards achieving that.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland last met with representatives of local teachers' unions in Northern Ireland; and whether they plan to hold further such meetings.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and her advisers meet representatives from trade unions on a regular basis and will continue to do so.