Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service Code of Practice on Discipline and
Grievances at Work
Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice, pursuant to AQW 12538/11-15, to detail (i) why the
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service Code of Practice on Discipline and Grievances at Work
does not apply to Northern Ireland; and (ii) the alternative that operates in its place.
(AQW 13190/11-15)
Mr Ford: The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) is funded by the Department for
Business, Innovation and Skills to improve organisations and working life in Great Britain through better
employment relations.
The remit of ACAS does not extend to Northern Ireland. Comparable functions are discharged in this
jurisdiction by the Labour Relations Agency (LRA), which is funded by my Department.
The Agency publishes a Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures that, taking account
of differences in law and practice between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, broadly corresponds with
the ACAS Code. It was most recently revised in April 2011, and provides practical guidance on statutory
requirements relating to disciplinary and dismissal issues; good employment practice in dealing with
grievance issues; what constitutes reasonable behaviour when dealing with disciplinary and grievance
issues; drawing up and using disciplinary and grievance procedures; and a worker’s statutory right to
bring a companion to grievance and disciplinary hearings. The Code is available free of charge from the
LRA’s website (www.lra.org.uk).
Misuse of Illegal and Prescription Drugs in Prisons
Mr Elliott asked the Minister of Justice, in light of the Prison Ombudsman’s report on the death of
a prisoner through drug misuse, what measures the Prison Service has put in place to deal with the
misuse of illegal and prescription drugs in prisons.
(AQW 13216/11-15)
Mr Ford: The Prison Service currently has a range of measures in place to deal with the misuse of
illegal and prescription drugs in prisons. These measures include:
■ a drugs and alcohol treatment and counselling service;
■ multi-disciplinary case reviews;
■ development of a revised anti-bullying policy;
■ provision of individual safes for storing prescription medication;
■ mandatory drugs tests;
■ regular cell searches and the deployment of drugs dogs; and
■ disciplinary action and removal from association with other prisoners where warranted.
I can also confirm that Prison Service officials are in the process of initiating a review of the
effectiveness of the range of measures currently in place to minimise the availability and use of illegal
drugs in our prisons. In addition, the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and the Prison Service
are committed to addressing recent concerns in relation to ‘in possession’ medication, in particular to
consider ‘supervised swallow’ arrangements for certain categories of drugs.
Foyle Pride Festival 2012 in Derry
Mr Eastwood asked the Minister of Justice to detail (i) the level of funding his Department has
allocated to the Foyle Pride Festival 2012 in Derry; and (ii) if his Department has not allocated funds to
the event, how much it is willing to provide towards the running costs of £15,000.
(AQW 13220/11-15)
WA 575