§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the United Kingdom Representation at Brussels has extended to the Northern Ireland Executive in helping them to establish an office in Brussels. [17238]
§ Mr. StrawThe office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels is responsible to the Northern Ireland devolved administration. As with the Brussels offices of the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales, assistance has been extended to ensure that the Northern Ireland (EU) office is able to operate under the umbrella of the United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union, with which it has close working relations. The office's Director and Deputy Director have been accredited to the Belgian authorities as members of the Permanent Representation. In March/May 2001, the Director was given temporary office accommodation in the Permanent Representation while work was completed on the Northern Ireland Executive's new premises in Brussels.