AQW 10183/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 12/11/2020
Answered On Date: 23/11/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance what steps have been taken to ensure that civil servants are recording ministerial meetings as outlined in New Decade, New Approach.

Answer:

The primary responsibility for ensuring the recording of ministerial meetings lies with the Private Secretaries and the Permanent Secretaries. The role of the Private Secretary is set out in new Private Office Guidance, issued to all Departments on 09 January 2020. The operation of this guidance has been the subject of two meetings of Private Office Staff and their line management.

A revised NICS Code of Ethics is in preparation. This will include the requirement that civil servants will keep accurate official records, including minutes of ministerial meetings, and handle information as openly and transparently as possible within the legal framework. The Code of Ethics, which is an integral part of the terms and conditions of employment for all civil servants, will be finalised and published shortly.