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Written Question
Northern Ireland Office: Brexit
Monday 7th January 2019

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many projects his Department has put on hold due to the requirements of planning for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Answered by Karen Bradley

My Department is currently carrying out a prioritisation exercise as part of its contingency planning. At the time of answering, no projects have been put on hold due to the requirements of planning for the UK to leave the EU without a deal.


Written Question
Northern Ireland Office: Brexit
Monday 7th January 2019

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many civil servants in her Department are currently working on planning for the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and how many have been moved from other projects to work on those plans.

Answered by Karen Bradley

Staff across the Department are engaged in various aspects of work for planning to leave the EU without a deal. The number of staff in the central EU Exit team is 16. Additional staff were recruited to fill these roles and no staff were moved from other projects to work in these roles.


Written Question
Northern Ireland Office: Ministerial Policy Advisors
Wednesday 2nd March 2016

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the (a) policy and (b) other responsibilities are of each special adviser in her Department.

Answered by Theresa Villiers

I refer the hon Gentleman to the answer given by my hon Friend, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, on 29 February 2016.


Written Question
Northern Ireland Office: Health
Monday 29th February 2016

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what her Department's wellness strategy is.

Answered by Theresa Villiers

The Northern Ireland Office’s wellness strategy is to promote and sustain a healthy, safe and supportive working environment for all our people. We do this by:

  • Providing absence and welfare policies and workplace support services;
  • Maintaining a zero tolerance policy towards discrimination, bullying and harassment in the workplace;
  • Ensuring the working environment is safe and meets Health and Safety legislative requirements;
  • Promoting an open-minded, respectful and inclusive workplace.

As a small department the Northern Ireland Office has also secured access to the Ministry of Justice’s networks and services for our staff to use.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Oct 2013
Oral Answers to Questions

"Q9. Does the Prime Minister consider it a source of shame that on his watch the Red Cross has announced that it will be distributing food to British families for the first time in 70 years?..."
Virendra Sharma - View Speech

View all Virendra Sharma (Lab - Ealing, Southall) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 07 Mar 2012
Oral Answers to Questions

"Q2. The Prime Minister’s Business Secretary says of the Government’s action on economic growth:“Our actions are, frankly, rather piecemeal.”Does the Prime Minister agree?..."
Virendra Sharma - View Speech

View all Virendra Sharma (Lab - Ealing, Southall) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions