Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on how many occasions the provision of mandatory training for his Departmental staff regarding their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 has been cited by his Department as a defence against Section 109 proceedings since the commencement of that Act.

The Northern Ireland Office has on no occasion cited the provision of mandatory training as a defence against Section 109 proceedings since the commencement of the Equality Act 2010.