§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what plans he has to designate the Home Office under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, with particular reference to functions in relation to asylum seekers and refugees; [165819]
819W(2) what plans he has to (a) designate Work Permits UK under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and (b) provide that the collection and reporting of statistics on work permits be subject to the public equity duty. [165820]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Home Secretary has advised me that in his view designation would have a serious and adverse effect on the work of his department, which includes Work Permits UK, specifically on the work of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. For that reason I accept his view that designation of the Home Office would not be appropriate. Wherever possible the Home Office is working within the spirit of the legislation.