Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many equality impact assessments have been carried out in the last three years on public service reforms which impact on (a) departmental staff and (b) members of the public; and if he will make a statement.

The Northern Ireland Office considers equality issues in exercising its functions, to comply with all relevant equality legislation and to ensure it understands how its activities will affect different people. Although there is no legal requirement to publish equality impact assessments under the public sector equality duty at Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, the Department must also comply with the requirements of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

In accordance with Schedule 9 4.(2)(d) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Department is required to publish details of all policy screenings or Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs) on a six monthly basis and include a summary of all screening reports and EQIAs in its Section 75 Annual Progress Report. The latest reports can be found on the Northern Ireland Office website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=northern-ireland-office&page=2