Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much money the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has spent on supporting legal cases in which the claimant was unsuccessful in the last 10 years.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland does not have a role in the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland’s budget or assessing legal cases it may take.

Responsibility for the Equality Commission’s functions and powers is devolved. It is sponsored by the Executive Office, which approves its budget and monitors spend and performance, including the performance of the board.

The Executive Office appraises the performance of the Chief Commissioner, including how the Commission has delivered its statutory duties and functions. Individual Commissioners are appraised by the Chief Commissioner.

As the Commission operates independently from Government you may wish to write directly to the Commission’s Chief Executive, and Accounting Officer, on the matters relating to the use of resources.