Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will estimate the annual cost to her Department of (a) stationery and (b) postage incurred when sending a ministerial reply to hon. Members; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
My Department does not hold the specific information requested.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will review her departmental estate in order to reduce costs; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
My Department has accommodation at three locations:-
1 Horse Guards Road, London, Hillsborough Castle (Co. Down), and Stormont House, Belfast.
The London office relocated from 11 Millbank to 1 Horse Guards Road in February 2013. This move enabled the Department to secure significant savings of just under £1m per annum. In July 2014, the Northern Ireland Office’s (NIO) footprint within 1 Horse Guards was further reduced which will create an additional annual saving of approximately £58,000.
On 1 April 2014, my Department transferred responsibility for the management and day to day running of Hillsborough Castle, whilst retaining accommodation and an office for Ministers, to the charity Historic Royal Palaces. This new arrangement will achieve significant savings for the NIO, with the added benefit of enabling the Castle to become fully open to the people of Northern Ireland and visitors from abroad.
My Department will continue to keep under review potential options to make further savings at all three of its locations.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will estimate the total number of ministerial replies from her Department to hon. Members in a parliamentary session; and what proportion of such replies are sent (a) by letter and (b) by email.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
I refer the hon Gentleman to the answer given by my Rt hon Friend, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, on 7 July 2014, Official Report, Columns 5W & 6W.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans her Department has to increase the number of replies sent electronically to letters from hon. Members.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
I refer the hon Gentleman to the answer given by my Rt hon Friend, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, on 7 July 2014, Official Report, Columns 5W & 6W.