§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the current purpose of the First Minister's and Deputy First Minister's office in Northern Ireland. [HL2357]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister is a fully functioning department of the Northern Ireland administration with a wide range of responsibilities. The strategic objectives of the department include supporting Ministers and the institutions of government; building a programme for government and modernising government programme; and promoting better community relations, a culture of equality and rights, and targeting social need and promoting social inclusion.
During suspension of the devolved institutions the staff who provide direct support and advice to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister have been redeployed to other duties. Otherwise the department continues to discharge functions which have been conferred on it by statute or added to by the Northern Ireland Assembly from time to time. In particular the department is concerned with economic policy issues such as the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative incorporating the Strategic Investment Board, rights and equality issues including the establishment of the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People as well as the promotion of modernisation and the development of electronic delivery of public services and information.