Cabinet Office Ministerial Responsibilities

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Northern Ireland Office

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.

Contact information

• Address:
  • Belfast: Block B, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast BT4 3SG
  • London: 11 Millbank, London SW1P 4PN
• Website: www.nio.gov.uk [External website]
• Telephone: 02890 520700
• Generic Email Format: firstname.surname@nio.x.gsi.gov.uk

Parliamentary Branch

• Telephone: 020 7210 6551
• Fax: 0207 210 6550
• Email: parly.section@nio.x.gsi.gov.uk

Ministerial and Treat Officially Correspondence Unit

• Telephone: 020 7210 6464
• Fax: 020 7210 0246
• Email: sos@nio.x.gsi.gov.uk

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Ministers

Shaun Woodward

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland: The Rt Hon Shaun Woodward

Leads on:

• The Secretary of State has overall responsibility for all aspects of the Department's work.
• Relationships with the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, on the Department's overall strategy, and on the devolution of policing and justice, the Government's approach to the past, constitutional issues and budgetary priorities.

Private Office to The Rt Hon Shaun Woodward

Paul Goggins

Minister of State: The Rt Hon Paul Goggins

Leads on:

• Operational issues associated with security, policing and criminal justice, including prisons.
• He also supports the Secretary of State across the range of the Department's responsibilities in the House of Commons.

Private Office to The Rt Hon Paul Goggins

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Private Offices

Private Office to The Rt Hon Shaun Woodward

• Telephone: 020 7210 6461 (London) 028 9052 0039 (Belfast)
• Fax: 020 7210 0246 (London) 028 9052 2655 (Belfast)
• Email: sos@nio.x.gsi.gov.uk

Private Office to The Rt Hon Paul Goggins

• Telephone: 0207 210 6488 (London) 02890 527889 (Belfast)
• Fax: 0207 210 6449 (London) 02890 522655 (Belfast)
• Email: jo2@nio.x.gsi.gov.uk

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Executive Agencies

Coensation Agency

The Coensation Agency administers the criminal injuries and criminal damage coensation scheme in Northern Ireland and pays coensation under the Terrorism Act 2000 legislation.

• Chief Executive: Robert Crawford
• Parent Department: Northern Ireland Office
• Responsible Minister: Minister of State (The Rt Hon Paul Goggins )
• Address: Royston House, 34 Upper Queen Street, Belfast BT1 6FD
• Website: www.coensationni.gov.uk [External website]
• Telephone: 028 9024 9944
• Email: co-agency@nics.gov.uk

Forensic Science Agency Northern Ireland

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.

• Chief Executive: Stan Brown
• Parent Department: Northern Ireland Office
• Responsible Minister: Minister of State (The Rt Hon Paul Goggins )
• Address: 151 Belfast Road, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim BT38 8PL
• Website: www.fsni.gov.uk [External website]
• Telephone: 028 9036 1888
• Fax: 028 9036 1900
• Email: forensic.science@fsni.gov.uk

Northern Ireland Prison Service

The Northern Ireland Prison Service provides prison services in Northern Ireland.

• Director General: Robin Masefield CBE
• Parent Department: Northern Ireland Office
• Responsible Minister: Minister of State (The Rt Hon Paul Goggins )
• Address: Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3SU
• Website: www.niprisonservice.gov.uk [External website]
• Telephone: 028 9052 5065
• Email: info@niprisonservice.gov.uk

Youth Justice Agency

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.

• Chief Executive: Dr Bill Lockhart OBE
• Parent Department: Northern Ireland Office
• Responsible Minister: Minister of State (The Rt Hon Paul Goggins )
• Address: Corporate Headquarters, 41-43 Waring Street, Belfast BT1 2DY
• Website: www.youthjusticeagencyni.gov.uk [External website]
• Telephone: 028 9031 6400
• Fax: 028 9031 6402/3
• Email: info@yjani.gov.uk

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