To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date consultation with the Unite trade union on the possible need to reduce the level of locally-engaged staffing in the UK Embassy to the Republic of Ireland commenced; what discussions on (a) the provision of redeployment, (b) retraining and (c) the avoidance of compulsory redundancy ensued; and if he will make a statement. (188030)

Consultation with the Unite trade union on the decision of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) management in London to restructure the UKTI section at our Embassy in Dublin began on 22 January.

Our Embassy and Unite, the union acting on behalf of the Embassy’s Local Staff Association, reached a mutually satisfactory agreement on the consequences for staff of the restructuring of the UKTI section on 21 February.