Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the written judgment of the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland in response to the judicial review brought by Fine Point Films and journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McAffrey NICA 35 Ref: MOR11288, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using reserved powers to compel the Police Service of Northern Ireland to release and delete copies of all unlawfully required journalistic material and communications data.
Answered by Robin Walker
The release and/or deletion of any information relating to this issue is a matter for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of aviation sector problems as a result of covid-19 on (a) regional transport connectivity and (b) the transportation of (i) patients, (ii) medical supplies and (iii) organ donations to and from Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Government has been working closely with the NI Executive to maintain connectivity between GB and NI during the Covid-19 pandemic.
We have agreed a generous £5.7m financial support package to maintain the air bridge between GB and NI. This will ensure that critical routes to London from both City of Derry and Belfast City airports remain open to support the movement of key workers and guarantee the continued flow of medical supplies and essential freight.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many and what proportion of staff in his Department would receive an increase in their salary in the event that their hourly pay rate was (a) £8.72, (b) £9.30 and (c) £10.
Answered by Julian Smith
This Government is committed to paying people a decent living wage, which is being addressed through the statutory National Living Wage. In April 2020, the National Living Wage increases to £8.72 per hour. By 2024, the National Living wage will rise to £10.50 per hour, reaching 66% of median UK earnings. The scope will be expanded to everyone aged 21 and over and is expected to benefit over 4 million low paid workers.
All civil servants are paid at least the current statutory National Minimum or National Living Wage rates of £7.70 and £8.21 per hour respectively. The total number of civil servants in the Northern Ireland Office paid below £8.72 per hour was 1 (0.38% of all staff) as at 16 January 2020. These numbers remain the same for £9.30. The total number of civil servants in the Northern Ireland Office paid below £10.00 per hour was 3 (1.15% of all staff) as at 16 January 2020.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the increase in the National Living Wage announced by the Government on 31 December 2019, what discussions he is having with private sector companies undertaking facility management work for his Department to ensure that the cost of wage increases for their employees are not passed on to his Department.
Answered by Julian Smith
My Department would not be involved in discussions with private sector companies undertaking facilities management work regarding cost of wage increases for their employees. My Department receives facilities management services in Stormont House, Belfast through collaborative contracts managed by Construction and Procurement Delivery, Department of Finance which is a Centre of Procurement Excellence. In London, facilities management services for 1 Horse Guards are included within the service charge from the landlord, Her Majesty's Treasury.