Northern Ireland Office: Staffing

Lord Laird
asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to reduce the number of staff of the Northern Ireland Office. [HL1153]

Lord Rooker
As part of its CSR07 settlement, the Northern Ireland Office is required to make 5 per cent per annum real savings in administration costs from 2008-09 onwards. Detailed plans to achieve these savings are being developed. These include savings in staff costs through natural wastage or redeployment, and savings in non-staff costs. The NIO's participation in shared services initiatives across the Northern Ireland Civil Service, for example, Account NI (for financial services) and HRConnect (for human resources), will contribute to the delivery of these savings.