To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is the policy of the Department of Education to keep its (a) canteen workers and (b) cleaners within the employment of Education and Library Boards. [125908]

Responsibility for the terms and conditions of employment of canteen workers and cleaning staff lies with each of the Education and Library Boards, which are the employers of such staff. It will be a matter for boards, in consultation with the Department, to decide how best to handle the employment arrangements for such staff on a case-by-case basis.