Cabinet Office Ministerial Responsibilities
Last updated: 27 October 2009
The role of the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is to maintain and support the devolution settlement flowing from the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements and to enable the devolution of justice and policing to occur as soon as the Northern Ireland Assembly requests it.
Following the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly on 8 May 2007 the department retains responsibility for a range of reserved and excepted policy matters, including electoral law, human rights and certain aspects of equality; and also for justice and policing, pending the devolution of these areas as well.
Shaun Woodward
Leads on:
Private Office to The Rt Hon Shaun Woodward MP
Paul Goggins
Leads on:
Private Office to The Rt Hon Paul Goggins MP
The Compensation Agency administers the criminal injuries and criminal damage compensation scheme in Northern Ireland and pays compensation under the Terrorism Act 2000 legislation.
The Forensic Science Agency of Northern Ireland provides scientific advice and support to the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Justice System.
The Northern Ireland Prison Service provides prison services in Northern Ireland.
The principal aim of the Youth Justice System is to protect the public by preventing offending by children. The Agency will contribute to the delivery of this aim through the provision of community based services, youth conferencing and secure custody.