Outstanding ministerial decisions
Dear Department of Health (Northern Ireland),
I would like to make the following request under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act, 2000.
In a recent landmark judgement over a Mallusk Incinerator, the Court of Appeal ruled that "any decision which as a matter of convention or otherwise would normally go before the minister for approval lies beyond the competence of a senior civil servant in the absence of a minister."
It further stated that "cross cutting" decisions involving more than one department were beyond the remit of civil servants.
In light of this, I would like to know
1) How many outstanding decisions or "cross-cutting" decisions does your department have that require ministerial approval?
2) Where possible, can you further specify the precise details of any such decisions and what they are regarding.
Yours faithfully,
Matthew Thompson
Mr Thompson,
Please find attached an acknowledgement of receipt of your request for
information together with an explanatory letter.
Robert Craig
Department of Health
Information Management Branch
Annexe 3
Castle Buildings
Belfast
Bt4 3SQ
Matthew
Please see attached response to your FOI.
Regards
Wendy
Corporate Management Directorate │ DOH │ Room D3 │ Castle Buildings│
Stormont Estate │ Belfast │ BT4 3SQ │ 028 905 23112 │ Ext.23112
Dear Wendy,
Thanks so much for this. I wonder might I be so bold as to ask for a clarification of my first request.
Could you specify which, if any, of those 19 decisions are "cross cutting" decisions, as opposed to matters solely for the Department of Health?
Yours sincerely,
Matthew Thompson
Matthew
Sorry I missed this coming through.
Strategies or issues which are cross-cutting are-
· Decision on approach to passported benefits criteria under
universal credit
· Commencement and implementation of the Mental Capacity Act (NI)
2016 and publication of MCA Code of Practice
· Agreement on the way forward in relation to Introduction of
Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol in Northern Ireland
· Agreement to implement recommendations from the Review of
Regional Children’s Specialist Facilities
· Agreement to publish the Strategy for Looked after Children
Regards
Wendy
Corporate Management Directorate │ DOH │ Room D3 │ Castle Buildings│
Stormont Estate │ Belfast │ BT4 3SQ │ 028 905 23112 │ Ext.23112
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