To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in his Department are (a) involved in assisting European Council negotiations, (b) involved in assisting and advising the European Commission, (c) seconded to the European Commission, (d) involved in monitoring EU decisions, communications, regulations and directives, (e) involved in enforcing compliance with EU decisions, communications, regulations and directives and (f) involved in other work related to the European Council, Commission or Court of Justice. (146091)

The information sought is as follows:

The staff identified at (d), (e) and (f) do not work full-time on these matters and nor do they have lead responsibility for any of this work. Rather, they are involved on an ad hoc basis, providing advice and Northern Ireland Office input to work for which other Whitehall Departments take the lead.