Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what her policy is on the future funding of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and whether there has been any recent change in that policy.

Like other UK Government departments, the Northern Ireland Office faces a significant reduction in its budget – of 11.15% in 2015/16. My department has therefore requested that all of its Arms-Length Bodies provide an impact statement on the practical measures that might be taken to meet such a reduction. I have not yet made any decision in respect of the Commission's budget. I met the acting chair of the Commission last week.