Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take steps to help ensure the retention of Belfast Citywide Tribunal Service.

The provision of advice services, such as the Belfast Citywide Tribunal Service, is a devolved matter. The Northern Ireland Department for Communities, has responsibility for the delivery and sponsorship of such organisations in partnership with local councils.

The right people to make decisions on funding these services are locally elected politicians in a fully functioning Northern Ireland Executive and Northern Ireland Assembly. In the absence of these institutions, it will be for the relevant Northern Ireland department, in this case, the Department for Communities, and by extension Belfast City Council, to manage funding, including provision for the Belfast Citywide Tribunal Service.