To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel (i) whether umbrella companies are used as part of the recruitment and payroll process for temporary agency workers hired by the NI Civil Service and (ii) what steps her Department take to ensure legal compliance with the Agency Workers' Regulation (Northern Ireland) 2011.

The majority of temporary workers assigned to NICS by Kennedy Recruitment have their recruitment and payroll processed by umbrella companies. No temporary workers assigned to NICS by Premiere have their recruitment and payroll processed through umbrella companies. Apple Recruitment provides temporary accountants and auditors to the NICS and at present do not use umbrella companies as part of their recruitment and payroll process.

Monitoring compliance with the Agency Workers’ Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 does not fall within the remit of my Department.