Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of senior civil service graded posts in his Department classified as (i) deputy director, (ii) assistant director, (iii) team leader and (iv) policy manager have been based outside London in each year since 2014.
Answered by James Brokenshire
In my Department the proportion of Senior Civil Service staff classified as Deputy Director based outside London over the period requested was as follows:
In 2014, two out of six; this is 33.3%.
In 2015, two out of six; this is 33.3%.
In 2016, two out of seven; this is 29%.
These were based in my Belfast office.
I have no Senior Civil Service staff classified as assistant director, team leader or policy manager.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate she has made of the value of stationery that has been (a) lost and (b) stolen from her Department in each of the last five fiscal years; and what the cost was of replacing such stationery.
Answered by Ben Wallace
There has been no stationery reported lost or stolen in my Department during the period requested.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much was paid in (a) year-end and (b) in-year bonuses to officials of her Department in each of the last three years.
Answered by Ben Wallace
In the last three financial years my Department paid officials the following amounts for year-end and in-year bonuses:
Financial Year | In-Year Bonuses (£) | Year-End Bonuses (£) |
2012/13 | 22,100 | 35,800 |
2013/14 | 32,150 | 31,800 |
2014/15 | 22,710 | 25,600 |
Non-consolidated performance related pay is only paid to reward excellence, for example to recognise and incentivise those responsible for delivering high quality public services and savings to the taxpayer. These one-off payments are not pensionable. Since 2010-11, the Government has restricted awards for senior civil servants to the top 25% of performers (from 65% in previous years), saving around £15 million overall.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of the office space owned or leased by her Department is not in regular use; what the total (a) rental and (b) retail value is of all such office space; and if she will place in the Library a copy of her most recent departmental real estate valuation.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
Following recent accommodation changes in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), all office space owned or leased by the Department is in regular use.
This Government is committed to reducing and rationalising its Estate to improve efficiency and release value. My Department has vacated satellite offices in central Belfast and staff have been relocated within existing premises in the Stormont Estate to ensure that all office space is effectively utilised, whilst ensuring that meeting space is available for ongoing political discussions.
The Department’s estate is restricted to Hillsborough Castle and its valuation is disclosed in the NIO Annual Report and Accounts. The most recent copy published is for the financial year ended 31 March 2014 which can be obtained at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/332945/NIO_Annual_Report___Accounts_2013-14.pdf .
Further information on the efficiency and sustainability of property in the government’s civil estate is published in the “State of the Estate Report 2013-14” which can be obtained at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-of-the-estate-2014.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which buildings occupied by her Department are owned or part-owned privately; what the total value is of the rent paid to private landlords for the use of such buildings for official duties; and to whom such rent is paid.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
The Northern Ireland Office leases office space from HM Treasury in 1 Horse Guards Road, London. This building is on a PFI contract. However, my Department pays its leasing charges to HM Treasury and not to a private landlord.