Written question asked by Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party) on Tuesday, 6 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 8 December 2005. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour) on Thursday, 15 December 2005 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Civil Service

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Personnel applied the public interest test to Derry City council's application under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for release of the Equality Impact Assessment for the Northern Ireland Civil Service e-HR programme.

Answer: In applying the public interest test, the Department decided in conformity with Section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act, not to disclose the EQIA because it intends to publish the EQIA, and expects to do so within the next three months in line with the arrangements set out in the Department's equality scheme. In addition, the draft EQIA remains a working document and to release it now would inhibit the development of the draft and the orderly administration of the process.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 36175; 440 c2238W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Civil servants Equality Freedom of information Department of Finance and Personnel (Northern Ireland Executive)
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk