Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many and what proportion of the staff employed by his Department are apprentices.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Northern Ireland Office, despite our relatively small size, has had 3 members of staff successfully complete apprenticeship qualifications in recent months. These 3 staff equated to 3% of our London staff, exceeding the public sector target of 2.3%. These staff members completed their apprenticeships at the end of 2020. As a result, we currently have no apprentices; however, we have started recruiting to ensure we can continue to meet this target.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much funding his Department has allocated to preparations for no deal being reached in negotiations between the UK and the EU.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Like all Departments the Northern Ireland Office is planning for a number of EU Exit scenarios to make sure we are ready on Day 1. EU Exit affects a number of work areas across the Department and will therefore encompass a proportion of workload for staff, the amount of which will vary over time.
Over £250m of additional funding has been approved across a number of Departments in 2017/18 to prepare for Brexit. The Northern Ireland Office has received additional funding this year, and has reprioritised to meet new pressures arising from Brexit preparations. Additional funding received from the reserve for 2017/18 will be set out at Supplementary Estimates. Decisions on funding in future years will be confirmed at a later date.
Asked by: Wes Streeting (Labour - Ilford North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department has set aside funding for contingencies in the event that no deal is reached between the UK and the EU.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Like all Departments the Northern Ireland Office is planning for a number of EU Exit scenarios to make sure we are ready on Day 1. EU Exit affects a number of work areas across the Department and will therefore encompass a proportion of workload for staff, the amount of which will vary over time.
Over £250m of additional funding has been approved across a number of Departments in 2017/18 to prepare for Brexit. The Northern Ireland Office has received additional funding this year, and has reprioritised to meet new pressures arising from Brexit preparations. Additional funding received from the reserve for 2017/18 will be set out at Supplementary Estimates. Decisions on funding in future years will be confirmed at a later date.