To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel, pursuant to AQW 53516/11-16, to detail the reasons for the 6 promotions during the freeze period, given the Northern Ireland Civil Service is expected to be downsizing and streamlining its total workforce.

The terms of the current embargo on recruitment and substantive promotions in the NICS are that any recruitment or promotion can only be approved by the relevant Departmental Accounting Officer. Therefore DFP can only give the reasons for any DFP appointments during the embargo. As advised in response to AQW 53516/11-16, between 1 April 2015 and 28 January 2016, a total of 6 people have been appointed to Grade 7 or analogous level in the NICS. One of these was a DFP promotion and the reason for this promotion is as follows:-

Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) is currently managing a number of experienced Principal Professional and Technical Officer (PPTO) staff leaving under the Voluntary Exit Scheme. As such, CPD needed to fill a critical PPTO vacancy involving a promotion of an internal Senior Professional and Technical Officer (SPTO) candidate from within CPD. Whilst this critical PPTO post was filled, it was offset by a subsequent headcount reduction at SPTO level within CPD.

The details of the other five appointments are as follows:-

IRC202476 – DE - Internal Audit G7

IRC203577 – DARD – DHR G7

IRC203877 – DHSSPS – DHR G7

IRC204585 – DOE – PPTO Planning Officer

IRC203597 – DOJ – G7 Economist.

The Member would, therefore, need to contact these Departments for information on the reasons for these appointments.