§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department is taking to achieve investor in people status; when they started the process, when they expect to achieve investor in people status; and if he will make a statement. [2981]
§ Sir John WheelerThe Northern Ireland civil service has been committed to the achievement of IIP status since 1992.
Individual Departments and agencies in the Northern Ireland civil service have developed their own strategies and timetables for pushing this initiative forward and plans are at an advanced stage to make formal commitments to achieving the IIP standard. To date, the 861W Training and Employment Agency and the internal audit group of the Department of Health and Social Services have achieved investor in people status.