Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans are in place to protect the Northern Ireland agricultural sector in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The agricultural sector plays an important role in the economy and society of Northern Ireland and we will do everything possible to safeguard the sector as the UK leaves the EU. That is best done by securing a deal with the EU, which remains the clear focus of this Government. With that said, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Ministerial team have been working closely with colleagues across Government and engaging with the Northern Ireland Civil Service, including the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, to identify how we can best support the agricultural community in the event of a ‘no-deal'.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government who made the decision to put a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen back on display at Stormont House; who was consulted before that decision was taken; on what date that decision was taken; and whether any additional images reflecting the work of the Northern Ireland Office were also put on display at the same location at that time.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
A portrait of Her Majesty The Queen is on display in the public area of Stormont House, alongside a series of images celebrating the work of the Department.
The Northern Ireland Office does not have a specific policy on the display of pictures, and there is no general policy either requiring the display of pictures of Her Majesty The Queen, or removing them from display. In practice, the display of pictures changes from time to time, in response to factors such as redecoration, Ministerial wishes, and to reflect our work for example.
The Department takes its responsibilities under Fair Employment legislation seriously and operates in line with the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland’s Guide, Promoting a Good and Harmonious Working Environment. This is the same for all of our offices.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria are used to decide which images reflecting the work of the Northern Ireland Office are put on display at Stormont House; and whether different criteria are used to decide which images are displayed at 1 Horse Guards Road, London.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
A portrait of Her Majesty The Queen is on display in the public area of Stormont House, alongside a series of images celebrating the work of the Department.
The Northern Ireland Office does not have a specific policy on the display of pictures, and there is no general policy either requiring the display of pictures of Her Majesty The Queen, or removing them from display. In practice, the display of pictures changes from time to time, in response to factors such as redecoration, Ministerial wishes, and to reflect our work for example.
The Department takes its responsibilities under Fair Employment legislation seriously and operates in line with the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland’s Guide, Promoting a Good and Harmonious Working Environment. This is the same for all of our offices.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Duncan of Springbank on 15 July (HL17173, HL17174, and HL17175), whether any compensation paid to civil servants has been indicated in the Northern Ireland Office accounting records.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
Any compensation payments would be accounted for by the Northern Ireland Office in line with the guidance in Managing Public Money. Individual payments of more than the threshold required under Managing Public Money would be noted separately. Any compensation paid in respect of litigation would be determined with reference to legal advice.
In line with previous responses, the Northern Ireland Office will keep its obligations under review to ensure its requirements under fair employment legislation are met.
As I answered previously, information on employees’ personal data is sensitive, in order to comply with DPA requirements, and so I am unable to comment further.
Images displayed in Stormont House are refreshed at regular intervals. Current images displayed reflect the culture and landscapes of Northern Ireland. These are in keeping with the rest of the building decor. We have no plans to review this policy.
Royal portraits hang on public display at Hillsborough Castle, and also in the London Office occupied by the Northern Ireland Office. Other pictures of the Queen are displayed at Stormont House.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Duncan of Springbank on 15 July (HL17173, HL17174, and HL17175), whether a decision was made to remove images of the Royal Family in Stormont House; if so, who made that decision; and whether any Northern Ireland Office ministers intend to review that policy.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
Any compensation payments would be accounted for by the Northern Ireland Office in line with the guidance in Managing Public Money. Individual payments of more than the threshold required under Managing Public Money would be noted separately. Any compensation paid in respect of litigation would be determined with reference to legal advice.
In line with previous responses, the Northern Ireland Office will keep its obligations under review to ensure its requirements under fair employment legislation are met.
As I answered previously, information on employees’ personal data is sensitive, in order to comply with DPA requirements, and so I am unable to comment further.
Images displayed in Stormont House are refreshed at regular intervals. Current images displayed reflect the culture and landscapes of Northern Ireland. These are in keeping with the rest of the building decor. We have no plans to review this policy.
Royal portraits hang on public display at Hillsborough Castle, and also in the London Office occupied by the Northern Ireland Office. Other pictures of the Queen are displayed at Stormont House.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Duncan of Springbank on 15 July (HL17173, HL17174, and HL17175), how levels of any compensation paid to civil servants for alleged offences caused by the display of images of the Royal Family in publicly funded buildings are calculated.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
Any compensation payments would be accounted for by the Northern Ireland Office in line with the guidance in Managing Public Money. Individual payments of more than the threshold required under Managing Public Money would be noted separately. Any compensation paid in respect of litigation would be determined with reference to legal advice.
In line with previous responses, the Northern Ireland Office will keep its obligations under review to ensure its requirements under fair employment legislation are met.
As I answered previously, information on employees’ personal data is sensitive, in order to comply with DPA requirements, and so I am unable to comment further.
Images displayed in Stormont House are refreshed at regular intervals. Current images displayed reflect the culture and landscapes of Northern Ireland. These are in keeping with the rest of the building decor. We have no plans to review this policy.
Royal portraits hang on public display at Hillsborough Castle, and also in the London Office occupied by the Northern Ireland Office. Other pictures of the Queen are displayed at Stormont House.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any Northern Irish civil servants received compensation for offence caused by portraits of the Royal Family; if so, how many; and in each case, how much compensation was awarded.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Northern Ireland Office takes its responsibilities under Fair Employment legislation very seriously and seeks to ensure a good and harmonious working environment for all staff; the requirements of which are set out in the 1989 Fair Employment Code of Practice.
In line with the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland’s Guide, Promoting a Good and Harmonious Working Environment, the Northern Ireland Office is sensitive to the display of “posters, pictures, portraits or other displays that are more closely associated with one or other of the communities” and will consider any concerns raised by employees. I can confirm that the department takes steps to ensure no such images are displayed in Stormont House
Information on employees’ personal data is sensitive, in order to comply with DPA requirements, and so I am unable to comment further. In line with the rest of the Civil Service, our staff need to be able to raise concerns in a confidential manner and without fear of repercussions.
In relation to the Northern Ireland Assembly, I would refer the noble Lord to the Clerk/ Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received any reports that civil servants in Northern Ireland have been offended by portraits of the Royal Family in (1) the Northern Ireland Office, and (2) the Northern Ireland Assembly; and if so, how many civil servants have made such complaints.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Northern Ireland Office takes its responsibilities under Fair Employment legislation very seriously and seeks to ensure a good and harmonious working environment for all staff; the requirements of which are set out in the 1989 Fair Employment Code of Practice.
In line with the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland’s Guide, Promoting a Good and Harmonious Working Environment, the Northern Ireland Office is sensitive to the display of “posters, pictures, portraits or other displays that are more closely associated with one or other of the communities” and will consider any concerns raised by employees. I can confirm that the department takes steps to ensure no such images are displayed in Stormont House
Information on employees’ personal data is sensitive, in order to comply with DPA requirements, and so I am unable to comment further. In line with the rest of the Civil Service, our staff need to be able to raise concerns in a confidential manner and without fear of repercussions.
In relation to the Northern Ireland Assembly, I would refer the noble Lord to the Clerk/ Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria are used to determine which portraits are displayed or removed in (1) the Northern Ireland Office, and (2) the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Northern Ireland Office takes its responsibilities under Fair Employment legislation very seriously and seeks to ensure a good and harmonious working environment for all staff; the requirements of which are set out in the 1989 Fair Employment Code of Practice.
In line with the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland’s Guide, Promoting a Good and Harmonious Working Environment, the Northern Ireland Office is sensitive to the display of “posters, pictures, portraits or other displays that are more closely associated with one or other of the communities” and will consider any concerns raised by employees. I can confirm that the department takes steps to ensure no such images are displayed in Stormont House
Information on employees’ personal data is sensitive, in order to comply with DPA requirements, and so I am unable to comment further. In line with the rest of the Civil Service, our staff need to be able to raise concerns in a confidential manner and without fear of repercussions.
In relation to the Northern Ireland Assembly, I would refer the noble Lord to the Clerk/ Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Assembly.