Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what equality impact assessments are carried out by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland before making a decision to take a legal case.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland does not have a role in the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland’s budget or assessing legal cases it may take.
Responsibility for the Equality Commission’s functions and powers is devolved. It is sponsored by the Executive Office, which approves its budget and monitors spend and performance, including the performance of the board.
The Executive Office appraises the performance of the Chief Commissioner, including how the Commission has delivered its statutory duties and functions. Individual Commissioners are appraised by the Chief Commissioner.
As the Commission operates independently from Government you may wish to write directly to the Commission’s Chief Executive, and Accounting Officer, on the matters relating to the use of resources.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the title of the document that governs the protocol which should be observed by Irish officials visiting Northern Ireland is; and if she will place in the Library a copy of that protocol document.
Answered by Karen Bradley
There is no protocol which the officials of other Governments should follow when visiting the United Kingdom. There is therefore no protocol which should be observed by Irish officials visiting Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the title of the document that governs the protocol which should be observed by Irish officials visiting Northern Ireland is; and if she will place in the Library a copy of that protocol document.
Answered by Karen Bradley
There is no protocol which the officials of other Governments should follow when visiting the United Kingdom. There is therefore no protocol which should be observed by Irish officials visiting Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will publish the guidance on protocol for members of the Irish Government visiting in an official capacity (a) Northern Ireland and (b) other parts of the UK .
Answered by Karen Bradley
Established practice is that the Northern Ireland Office is officially informed about Irish Government visits to Northern Ireland by the Irish Side of the British Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat. With regard to visits to the rest of the UK, the practice is for the Irish Government to arrange routine visits through the Irish Embassy in London, with the FCO providing support for State and Guest of Government visits.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the Permanent Secretaries of devolved Departments in Northern Ireland have the authority to set up financial support schemes to address damage caused by severe weather conditions.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
I sympathise with those who have been adversely affected by severe weather conditions recently.
The establishment of financial support schemes for damage caused by severe weather conditions is a devolved matter. As such, it would be a matter for Northern Ireland departments to consider and I have made no assessment as to the powers available to them in this regard.
More broadly, the fundamental issue is and remains the absence of Northern Ireland Ministers to take political decisions. The broader strategic decisions needed to tackle some of the key challenges facing Northern Ireland requires political direction to progress. That should be provided by local politicians through a power-sharing Executive, and that is why it is essential that we see devolution restored.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent steps his Department has taken to deter and prevent electoral fraud in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Shailesh Vara
The administration of elections in Northern Ireland is an operational matter for the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland, and all cases of suspected electoral fraud are referred by her to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. I am aware that a very small number of cases of possible fraud were referred to the PSNI last year.
The Chief Electoral Officer has conducted a review of absent voting procedures at recent elections which the Secretary of State will consider carefully. A copy of the Chief Electoral Officer’s letter will be placed in the Library of the House.