Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether all (a) buildings and (b) workplaces staff from their Department occupy have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment under Section 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Answered by Steve Baker
The Northern Ireland Office is co-located in two locations in London and Belfast, and these sites are managed by other government departments.
The Northern Ireland Office follows Ministry of Justice policy, which complies with Health and Safety legislation. The Northern Ireland Office requires all its employees to undertake mandatory training in Health and Safety compliance, as well as workstation risk assessments for new starters, employees whose work environment changes, and in pregnancy.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if they will take steps to (a) publish an equality impact assessment and (b) consult with trade unions when proposing new HR policies for their Department; and if they will make a statement.
Answered by Steve Baker
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is committed to fulfilling the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) as set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, by providing employees with Inclusion in the Civil Service training, and publishing guidance on the NIO intranet for employees to understand how and when to conduct an equality impact assessment.
There is no legal requirement to publish duty assessment documentation (often referred to as equality impact assessments).
However, under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, S.75 screenings are routinely published on the Departments transparency pages.
The Northern Ireland Office always seeks to work with trade unions, through meaningful consultation and engagement to help inform decision making.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps their Department takes to comply with section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992; and if they will make a statement.
Answered by Steve Baker
There is a range of HR information which is published on GOV.UK and which is therefore publicly available.
The Northern Ireland Office shares a range of information with their recognised Trade Unions and data where it is appropriate and in line with privacy statements. This helps inform decision-making through formal negotiation and meaningful consultation and engagement.
The Northern Ireland Office is therefore complying with section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and we always seek to work constructively with trade unions to reach fair and reasonable settlements.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many and what proportion of employees in their Department are paid at the rate of the National Minimum Wage.
Answered by Steve Baker
Northern Ireland Office pay is in line with Civil Service pay principles and Ministry of Justice policy. There are no employees in the Northern Ireland Office currently paid at the rate of the National Minimum Wage or below. The Ministry of Justice pay deal for the current pay remit year offer to the most junior staff grade is £19,932 (Band F/AA). The most junior grade employed by the Northern Ireland Office are Band E/AO.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what human resources information their Department shares with trade unions on a regular basis.
Answered by Steve Baker
The Northern Ireland Office shares relevant human resources updates and information with trade unions when required as part of ongoing engagement. There is also a range of publicly available HR information, which is published on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the effect of the General Data Protection Regulation on the right of recognised unions to access bargaining information in his Department in relation to section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
Answered by Julian Smith
Staff in my Department are employed under the terms and conditions of the Ministry of Justice.
The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation has not affected the rights of unions in the Ministry of Justice in relation to bargaining information provided under section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.