Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

All Departments in central government, including arms-length bodies apply the published guidance: Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business published by Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). The Northern Ireland Office uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.

The Northern Ireland Office provides additional advice to supplement the central guidance which is published on the departmental intranet.