Christmas
Northern Ireland
Written answers and statements, 4 November 2009
Mark Prisk (Shadow Minister (Business and Enterprise), Business; Hertford & Stortford, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Christmas functions arranged by his Department and its agencies (a) he, (b) officials of his Department and (c) officials of its executive agencies (i) hosted and (ii) attended in 2008; and if he will make a statement.
Shaun Woodward (Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office; St Helens South, Labour)
Northern Ireland Office (NIO) Ministers hosted and attended four Christmas receptions.
These events were attended by over 1,500 cross-community representatives from the criminal justice, policing, military, charity and voluntary sectors across Northern Ireland. The total cost was £37,534.53.
The Northern Ireland Office works in partnership with a range of organisations in the course of delivering the Department's objectives on political development, policing and justice. This includes working with strategic partners within the policing and criminal justice field, engagement with community groups and interests around Northern Ireland, working closely with the Irish Government and engaging with key opinion formers abroad. The NIO also helps promote community cohesion and celebrates successes in Northern Ireland by making Hillsborough Castle accessible to community groups, charities, the armed forces, veterans, and others working in the policing and justice fields.
The Secretary of State did not attend in an official capacity any Christmas functions arranged by the Department's external agencies.