Diane Forsythe
South Down · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“The Schomberg Society and the staff and pupils of Kilkeel Primary School worked hard alongside the team from Blue Eagle Productions, especially director Rosie McClelland, to deliver a fantastic performance. We saw Northern Ireland's history, heritage and the pupils' great talent shining through.”
“<BR /> <BR />The production was an excellent way to mark that important historic event and for those P7 pupils to bring their time in primary school to a close. It was bittersweet for the year group, as one of their dear classmates was notably missing.”
“As we come to the end of another school term, I pay tribute to some excellent work at Kilkeel Primary School in my constituency, especially by the P7s. I declare an interest, as my son is one of them.”
“Mrs McCabe, the school principal, shared with the children the words of Proverbs chapter 17, verse 17 on how true friends love at all times — through the good times and the hardships of life. I thank Mrs McCabe for her leadership.”
“The Minister will not be surprised by my question on the delay of the accounts certification on SEUPB, as we are in June 2026, 18 months after the end of financial year 2024. Those accounts have still not been certified in both jurisdictions, and a full further financial year has since passed.”
“Minister, you say that you want to avoid unintended consequences for businesses and property owners, but those measures do nothing for existing long-term businesses that are struggling on, already occupy premises and cannot afford to invest in their properties, and there will be consequences for them.”
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“I thank the Minister for his answer and his commitment on the issue. Due to the uncertainty that the issue causes within the industry, will the Minister commit to a review to determine whether a multi-year budget package for forestry grants is the way forward?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Employer contributions and the increase in the minimum wage have rightly been highlighted as having significant impact on small businesses, but there will obviously be a huge impact on the delivery of our public services as well. The Minister outlined that the Treasury had advised that it would provide support to fund the additional costs in the public sector. Will the Treasury support be extended to arm's-length bodies, such as the community and voluntary sector, that provide public services under government contracts, many of which are charities that have to fundraise and are being hit with the increase in minimum wage and employer's contributions?”
“<BR /> <BR />I fully realise that the Minister is under immense budgetary pressure. I appreciate the opportunity to raise with him in the Chamber some of the issues facing us with regard to homelessness in South Down.”
“However, there needs to be increased awareness of hidden homelessness and what it really means for people. I ask the Department for Communities to commit to providing information on and increasing awareness of hidden homelessness. As an elected representative, I will be happy to promote anything on that that I can in the constituency. <BR /> <BR />The work of the voluntary and community sector in this space is invaluable in South Down, given that, as with many services, things are centralised to the cities and larger towns. I recognise the work of the churches and, as Andy mentioned, the Simon Community and our County Down Rural Community Network. Those organisations are invaluable in providing support for and raising awareness among people in our community when needed.”
“I ask the Minister if there are plans for his Department to work with councils to expedite planning when any new proposed social housing may become available for the district. <BR /> <BR />I return to the point that I made at the start: anyone can become homeless. Many people who are deemed homeless do not even consider themselves to be. Many people come to my office facing a variety of issues — health crises, family issues and addiction management — and, often, they are moving between locations. They move between friends and families, staying in spare rooms and sofa-surfing. I struggle to help them when they do not accept that they are deemed to be homeless. When they can accept that and present as homeless, their journey to the support that they need can be navigated.”
“As Andrew outlined, that demonstrates significant issues and movements, but the transparency around what it means for rural communities is hard to pull out of that data, as issues are often skewed by the bigger towns and the city of Newry in the reported figures. To really grasp the issues in those rural areas, we need to reflect on how we capture the data and report it. <BR /> <BR />Where the housing supply is limited and when any funding is awarded in South Down, we face an additional challenge. If and when the budget is awarded, Newry, Mourne and Down council's planning system is one of the slowest in the country and has the longest waiting lists, with it being some two and a half years before many cases are even looked at. That is a potential additional crisis, if funding becomes available.”
“<BR /> <BR />Another issue that is repeatedly being raised with me with regard to temporary accommodation, where people are moving in and out of areas, is children being moved in and out of schools, the change of school environment and the lack of transport. With temporary accommodation often lasting for significant periods, there is a lot of difficulty and communication barriers, and I ask that officials in the Education Authority (EA) and the Department for Communities work more closely to avoid disruption for those children. <BR /> <BR />The absence of information on homelessness by constituency or town reduces the transparency on where some of the issues lie, especially in areas like South Down, where our data being published is for the Newry, Mourne and Down district.”
“Hotels, vacant homes and flats in rural areas of South Down have increasingly been used for temporary accommodation for people from outside the area, which, with the lack of communication, has caused significant disruption and misunderstanding about what is happening in quiet country towns. The constant turnover of people and the lack of consultation with the community, local police, elected representatives, the Housing Executive and some housing associations has resulted in a lot of local crisis, public meetings and interventions. In the absence of permanent housing solutions, I recognise the need for the temporary accommodation, but I ask the Minister to please provide some clear guidance to housing bodies to enter improved communication to communities with relevant stakeholders moving forward.”
“I would like to hear the Minister's assessment of the specific challenges regarding homelessness in rural areas. <BR /> <BR />The recent publication of the Budget this year paints a bleak picture, with only 400 new-start social homes to be built. The Housing Executive has made its case and has told the Communities Minister that it needs £20 million to more fully fund the homelessness fund. The crisis is real, and we are all well versed in the financial pressures that we face. I appreciate that the Minister is under pressure, but we need to keep being well versed in the issue and raise awareness. <BR /> <BR />The issue of temporary housing is significant and is acutely felt in South Down, with it being one of the most common things raised in my office when it comes to housing issues.”
“The definition of "homeless" includes people staying with friends and families, those staying in hostels, rough sleepers and those living in homes that are unsuitable for them. <BR /> <BR />In rural areas such as South Down, homelessness looks very different from what it looks like in urban areas. Rural homelessness is an unseen crisis in the countryside, driven by limited access to services and an absence of affordable homes. Rising rural homelessness is an inevitable impact of housing shortages. The extent of the crisis is unclear as limited rural data is captured in many official statistics. The figures show that homelessness has increased overall in the last decade, and, while interventions have helped in urban areas, their impact is less successful in rural communities.”
“I thank my constituency colleague Andrew McMurray for securing the debate this evening. <BR /> <BR />We know that becoming homeless can happen to anyone. Over 48,000 are now on the waiting list for social housing in Northern Ireland, with 8,452 presenting as homeless in the most recent reporting period, October 2023 to March 2024. It really is such a significant issue in Northern Ireland, and it is good to speak about it in the House this evening. <BR /> <BR />Homelessness is widely misunderstood. Many just understand it as looking around and seeing people living on the streets, and the real challenge that we face is explaining and raising awareness of what it really means.”
“We have worked hard to increase the representation of women in the Chamber, and we want to keep that and improve it. In this mandate, some five of our female MLAs have had babies and been able to maintain their MLA roles. We want to see that continuing. <BR /> <BR />Similar procedures have been put in place in other Parliaments across the United Kingdom. That is vital to ensuring that there is no chill factor for those in society, both now and in the future, who have a desire to seek political office and cherish their roles as parents and caregivers. We feel that exclusions for more significant votes, including those that require cross-community support, are fair and reasonable. The new Standing Order will ensure that the new entitlement is exercisable for the bulk of plenary votes, whilst respecting the role and traditions of this place.”
“<BR /> <BR />It should be a basic requirement, whether in Northern Ireland or further afield, that modern legislatures reflect, as far as is practicable, the challenges faced by elected representatives who balance the position entrusted to them by the electorate with their role as a mother, father or foster carer. Members who are also parents do not seek preferential treatment. It is right, however, that, on balance, the procedures of the House recognise the need for compassionate and flexible arrangements in situations where significant events and changes in personal circumstances place a Member in an almost invidious position. There will be little appetite to use the mechanism frequently, but it is reasonable and proportionate for it to exist.”
“The Democratic Unionist Party welcomes the creation of the new Standing Order, which will provide Assembly Members with a formal entitlement to a vote by proxy when they are on parental leave, have fostering responsibilities or tragically suffer from complications in pregnancy, including miscarriage, stillbirth or baby loss. There will, of course, be a number of practical and administrative matters to be ironed out by guidance, and the DUP will work alongside other parties on the Assembly Commission to ensure the smooth operation of any scheme. However, the principle of the changes is one we can all stand four-square behind today.”
“Given that the value of midwifery and neonatal services staff is highlighted in his statement, will the Minister commit to encouraging the management of the Southern Trust to deal with its staff with clarity in open communication? A week ago today, I asked for an urgent meeting with the management of the trust. I still have not secured that; I am struggling to get clarity, as are the staff. Will the Minister commit to encouraging the Southern Trust to deal with its staff with openness and to value its —”
“I thank the Minister for the statement. I especially welcome his commitment in the House to the continuation of maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital. He acknowledged in his statement the importance of the staff. As he will be aware, staff have been subjected to a great deal of stress over the past few weeks with regard to the Daisy Hill Hospital situation. A couple of weekends ago, staff were, at short notice, diverted to work at Craigavon Area Hospital. Just last week, a full staff meeting of the midwifery team was called with 20 minutes' notice, with no union representatives. Many of the staff left in tears, not knowing whether they would have jobs at Daisy Hill beyond the end of the week.”
“Twenty-four women have been murdered in Northern Ireland since 2020. Based on the information given in the previous question, that is 25 now, and five in the past six weeks. That is a huge escalation, and it is terrifying that Northern Ireland is one of the most dangerous places in Europe for women to live. Given that, with the murder of Mary Ward, the PSNI referred itself to the ombudsman directly, and given the recent handling of the Katie Simpson case, will the Minister of Justice be taking any steps to undertake an urgent review of the handling of those cases in Northern Ireland?”
“The Budget sustainability plan is based on the plan to have a balanced Budget for 2024-25. Given the Minister's recent announcement of £769 million of overcommitment for the year, and the fact that we are still waiting to hear the outcome of the monitoring round, is she confident that the 2024-25 Budget can be balanced?”
“I have had a look at the well-being dashboard. It is good to see it online; people can see what it is starting to look like. What will it look like? What sort of indicators can we expect to see there?”
“The online vilification of elected representatives, harbour board members and private individuals throughout the process has not been helpful. Our local MLAs and councillors all want to see a resolution of the issue and are focused on the best interests of the constituents and the South Down area, but we need to see a strong and clear response. As we gather in the Chamber in the best interests of our constituents, I welcome the Minister's commitment to respond to put an end to speculation. Hopefully, he will advise on a constructive way forward for Warrenpoint, in line with his track record of seeking solutions, and deliver a healthy environment for Warrenpoint.”
“<BR /> <BR />I do not want to see anyone subject to pollution or inappropriate actions that result in severe odours. It is awful to hear the stories of what individuals and businesses have suffered. I have received a lot of correspondence this week, and I appreciate all who have reached out on the subject; it is important to hear the stories first-hand. It is important that we investigate and gather evidence to conclude on the way forward. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the AERA Minister's action in response to the issue. He requested a multi-agency review in August. I ask him for clarity on his response to the conclusion of the review and for his recommendations on the way forward. <BR /> <BR />Much has been said on the issue. There has been information and misinformation, as has been mentioned, particularly on social media.”
“<BR /> <BR />The use of the port by a significant waste management contractor to transport its waste comes with its own levels of compliance and licensing. Warrenpoint Harbour Authority has continually engaged with that company and the contractors that use the port. It has commissioned independent reviews, making it clear that it does not want to accept any odour from the operations on its site. My understanding is that the waste contractor has also commissioned independent consultants to complete a review; that it has implemented recommendations to go above and beyond industry best practice; that its NIEA licence remains in place; and that Warrenpoint Harbour Authority has an independent monitoring team that regularly assesses the waste management at the port.”
“The harbour authority has a legal responsibility to comply with all of those things and to manage them professionally. <BR /> <BR />In my time as an MLA, the harbour authority has provided regular updates, been informative about its work, been involved in community engagement and made itself available to discuss any concerns. In fact, it was the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority that first brought it to my attention that local people had been raising concern about odours in the area. I appreciate that other Members' offices are closer to this in Warrenpoint and that they had more direct and quicker contact with individuals, but it was the harbour authority that brought the issue to my attention.”
“I thank the Member who secured the debate on an issue that is important to our area, South Down. It is good to see all the South Down MLAs in the Chamber. I welcome the opportunity to hear directly from the Minister to get clarity on the Northern Ireland Environment Agency's position on and consideration of waste management in Warrenpoint. <BR /> <BR />Warrenpoint Harbour Authority is based in our constituency and supports 60 jobs directly and 400 jobs indirectly. It is an important economic driver for South Down and the wider region. It is a complex organisation, and a wide range of activities occur throughout the port. With those come a range of regulations, monitoring bodies, reporting requirements and compliance issues.”
“I thank the Minister for that and welcome his commitment to reducing the TB outbreaks in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Given the worrying bluetongue developments on a Welsh farm, can the Minister provide an update on Northern Ireland's preparations for that?”
“Does it prioritise prisoners over the children in our schools, our health workers and even our police? It is outrageous, and that question needs to be answered.”
“I do not believe that many people would appreciate prisoners being treated better than children in our schools. <BR /> <BR />The Justice Minister was quick to criticise a mobile phone pilot scheme brought into schools by the Education Minister at a cost of £250,000, despite it being a proven issue with need. Yet, here we are exposing the fact that she spends six times as much every year on pocket money for prisoners' privileges. It is shocking. I did not quite believe the scale of this until I uncovered the details. The people of Northern Ireland deserve to know where public funds are being spent, especially in times of such extreme budget pressure, and to challenge the priority of others. The Alliance Party needs to clarify its priorities.”
“In policing, just recently, the Chief Constable of the PSNI was so exasperated over the lack of policing budget that he appealed to our UK Government and was criticised by the Department of Justice for doing so. I am sure that the £1·5 million pocket money for prisoners would be welcomed in the policing budget by the Chief Constable. <BR /> <BR />Just a couple of weeks ago, it was established that the Department of Justice was spending more than £13 million on a new prison kitchen and cafe for criminals, whilst, up and down the country, schools struggle with substandard canteen facilities. They are outdated, there are no counters, and children wait outdoors in all weather. Yet, the Justice Department has prisoners in brand new canteen facilities. Criminals are in prison for a reason.”
“In the past year, prisoners in Northern Ireland have received £1,445,283 of tuck money: that is, pocket money for privileges or "sweetie money". To be clear, the Department of Justice, on top of providing meals and facilities, gives prisoners in Northern Ireland one and a half million pounds of pocket money for privileges every year. I find that shocking. <BR /> <BR />Who does not get one and a half million pounds a year for privileges? The children in our schools. Parents are regularly asked to contribute towards basic school supplies; PTAs are under pressure to fundraise; and teachers are paying for stationery supplies, tissues and other things. One and a half million pounds would go a long way in enhancing our children's schools' budgets. In Health, one and a half million pounds would employ 40 nurses a year.”
“Of course, the Health Minister may access and apply the Children's Services Co-operation Act in doing so. We fully support the aim of investigating an effective model of cross-departmental cooperation on children's services. <BR /> <BR />It is great to see the Finance Minister here, and I look forward to hearing her assessment of the lack of use of the Children's Services Co-operation Act, but, as we move forward, the key priority will be to address children's mental health. It is for the Health Minister to take urgent steps to lead that forward in order to address the crisis of the real devastation that many families here find themselves in.”
“Unacceptable wait times for assessment, barriers to accessing services and, in particular, a lack of respite services have placed huge strains on many families. We want to see the Health Minister urgently set out his stall in response to the wide-ranging recommendations on structures, staffing and oversight of children's services included in the independent review report published last year. <BR /> <BR />Departments should, of course, work together. I recognise the Children's Services Co-operation Act and the lack of its uptake in practice. However, I agree with the previous Member, who said that the Health Minister should take the lead on cooperation with other Departments. We need to see a removal of the silo-working mentality between Departments, health trusts and local health services.”
“I thank the Opposition for highlighting children's mental health in the motion. <BR /> <BR />Sitting with a family in tears over the lack of services available for a child who is facing a mental health crisis is, sadly, not unusual. There can be no doubt that children's social services in Northern Ireland face unprecedented pressures. That has a residual impact on the mental health of children who are in care or are regarded as being in need. The impact of the pandemic cannot be overstated: the number of children in care at the end of October 2023 was 17% higher than the last official figure prior to COVID. <BR /> <BR />The breakdown of children's services has also massively impacted on the mental health and well-being of many parents and carers.”
“<BR /> <BR />We support the motion to reinstate the funding for our much-valued voluntary and community sector organisations and the work that they do to deliver mental health services, but we do not support the amendment calling for the Finance Minister to respond rather than the Health Minister.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Health Minister needs to take steps to quantify and appreciate the value and contribution of the sector. He needs to identify £1·8 million within his budget, which would be better used in this way. We still await transformation plans, and I ask whether the Minister has taken steps to review the health service for obvious inefficiencies. In a place like Northern Ireland, where we have five area-based health and social care trusts, I imagine that some steps could be taken to make simple efficiencies. Well over 100 directors on significant salaries, duplicating administrative tasks across Northern Ireland, comes to mind, and from practical examples of inefficiencies presented in my constituency office on a regular basis, I am sure that £1·8 million could be identified.”
“Nothing was done. The core health grant was £3·6 million per year, and it was cut by Robin Swann to £1·8 million per year. We are calling for a reinstatement of only £1·8 million per year — small in the overall scheme of the Health budget. <BR /> <BR />We do not support the amendment because we do not accept that it is the Finance Minister's role to find extra money to take from other Departments for items in the Health budget. It is for the Health Minister to accept responsibility for the delivery of healthcare in Northern Ireland. He needs to recognise that for just another £1·8 million in the core health grant, the return on investment is huge. Reinstatement of that funding would keep in place and secure the many voluntary and community sector organisations and keep tens of thousands of people receiving services.”
“In my constituency, health workers panicked at the financial cliff edge last year, contacting me to say that they were referring thousands of people every month directly to voluntary and community sector groups such as Mencap, and that, without them, those patients would have nowhere to be referred to. No pathway for those services exists. <BR /> <BR />We want to see the role of the voluntary and community sector valued and extended, not diminished. The cut in core grant funding has meant that many service providers that support the health and social care system have been forced to divert resources from supporting people in order to cover running costs. In April this year, 51 community and voluntary groups wrote to the then Health Minister to appeal for reinstatement of the core health grant as it would keep them existing.”
“As chair of the all-party group on voluntary and community sector, the main theme from the groups is that they do not feel valued. <BR /> <BR />At a recent Public Accounts Committee hearing, I asked Health officials how many people in Northern Ireland were receiving mental health services from the voluntary and community sector. They had no idea. In June, I asked the Health Minister how many healthcare patients in Northern Ireland were referred by his Department, the trusts and GPs directly to the voluntary and community sector for mental health services. He advised that that information was not available. I do not believe that he has an idea of the number, and we want to see him take steps to value the sector enough to find out. I know that the figure is tens of thousands.”
“The voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland is delivering front-line health services to the public. It fills the gaps in need where public services, through the Department of Health and local trusts, do not reach. Without the sector, tens of thousands of people across Northern Ireland would have no mental health services at all. In my area, the sector includes great organisations such as Mourne Matters, the Regenerate project, the JIMS youth centre, MyMy and many more. <BR /> <BR />The huge problem that we face is that the Health Minister and Department of Health officials do not fully appreciate the scale of the healthcare services that the voluntary and community sector is providing. It is widely felt that the Health Minister and his officials do not fully appreciate and value the sector.”
“He truly inspires all of us to do our part for our local community and charities. He has long been the pride of his family and friends. He is the pride of Kilkeel and the Mournes, and we are all extremely proud to see him crowned as Northern Ireland's Pride of Britain 2024 winner. I wish Stanley all the very best as he travels to London for the Pride of Britain awards dinner. Congratulations Stanley, it is so well deserved.”
“Sadly, Stanley's wife died from cancer, and one of his daughters died more recently with a brain tumour. <BR /> <BR />Another of Stanley's key fundraising efforts has been his support for the JIMS Youth Centre in Kilkeel. I am especially grateful for the centre, as all my children benefit from it. From after-school clubs to summer schemes, drop-in sessions and the Step Up leadership programmes, it offers amazing services. It also provides a vital mental health hub for children and young people in Kilkeel. The centre would not have those great facilities had it not been for Stanley's fundraising. On Friday night, the young people at JIMS were overjoyed as they huddled round the TV to see Stanley win the Pride of Britain award. I got a few wee texts from the girls that said, "Our guy won". <BR /> <BR />Stanley is an amazing man.”
“Stanley is a modest and humble man who was motivated in his fundraising action after suffering unimaginable personal loss.”
“I congratulate Kilkeel man Stanley Tomkins on winning the Northern Ireland Pride of Britain award on Friday night past. The Pride of Britain Awards have been honouring our nation's unsung heroes for the past 25 years, celebrating the achievements of truly remarkable people who make our world a better place. Stanley Tomkins certainly fits that description. Now 87 years old, Stanley has been an inspirational part of our community in Kilkeel for decades, and he is still as motivated as ever. He has rallied to lead the way in fundraising for a number of charities, and, in that time, he has raised an estimated incredible £750,000. <BR /> <BR />Stanley has raised money for a number of charities, including Save the Children and Cancer Research UK, which is particularly close to his heart.”
“Thank you very much for that answer. Does the First Minister agree that Northern Ireland has a number of key sectors in which we punch well above our weight, not least the aerospace industry, which is a significant employer in my constituency? What will the key message be to investors about why they should choose this part of the United Kingdom to invest in?”
“However, in order to allow us function in the current financial year, we will support the Bill today.”
“With the haphazard, unpredictable actions of the Labour Government in recent weeks, our priority is approving an operational Budget in Northern Ireland to keep our public services operating. The Budget Bill contains no big decisions or anything new. It simply brings forward the governance structures to enable our Civil Service Departments to operate and spend money to the limits that have been applied without having to repeatedly request advances from the Consolidated Fund, which increases administration. <BR /> <BR />We in the DUP have been consistent in our calls for an improved, sustainable financial package for Northern Ireland, and we will continue to be so. In order to make Northern Ireland the best that it can be, it needs to be fairly funded. We need to see delivery for Northern Ireland from the Labour Government.”
“Every Minister is disappointed with the allocations, but the Executive and we in the Assembly have a responsibility to ensure that our Departments keep running and keep delivering essential public services to the best of their ability, and, in order to do that, they need the Budget Bill to be approved. <BR /> <BR />In the absence of an agreed Programme for Government, we know that the Budget was not brought forward in perfect circumstances. The draft consultation on the Programme for Government has now been published, and the Executive priorities have been laid out. However, again, we need to note that, under the extreme financial pressures that we find ourselves in, the Budget is extremely difficult. We also face the backdrop of uncertainty.”
“I am confident in our DUP leader's commitment to continue to fight for a fair and sustainable long-term funding package for Northern Ireland, and we will support him in any way that we can in the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />That is the longer-term financial objective. We are dealing today with a Budget Bill that has been brought to us in circumstances that are by no means ideal. Given the extreme financial pressures, the Budget Bill does the best that it can in the circumstances. Every Department bid for significantly more than has been allocated in the Budget.”
“We are all well versed in the Budget circumstances. We know that Northern Ireland has long been underfunded, and our DUP leader, Gavin Robinson MP, has been leading the campaign for an improved funding package for Northern Ireland for some time. Whilst the stabilisation package that the Government have offered is welcome, it does not provide the space or financial firepower to take forward the public services transformation agenda meaningfully. The Fiscal Council has said that that extra funding will largely be consumed by recurring public-sector pay pressures and provides little additional spending power for the Executive in the short term. That is why, last December, the DUP insisted that the funding did not go far enough when others were claiming that we should not look a gift horse in the mouth.”
“High levels of sickness absence, alongside over 3,200 vacant posts reported, is putting the delivery of our public services under immense pressure. At a time of extreme Budget pressures, we cannot afford to sit back as a recurring, increasing cost — now reaching £44 million per year — hits our public purse. We hear public sector transformation and Civil Service reform discussed regularly as a big strategic objective, but let us get serious and take action in delivering some of that transformation. We need a reform of how our Civil Service operates at every level. Our civil servants should not be left short-staffed or reporting high levels of sickness. That is an indicator of serious problems, and it needs to be addressed now. The cost is too high. We need to see action.”
“As elected representatives, we owe it to the taxpayers to investigate what is going on, and we owe it to the civil servants to investigate the root cause of the issues. Many civil servants have highlighted specific pressures in the Civil Service to me and expressed frustration at their not being investigated. I genuinely believe that there are multiple factors at play, but the issue needs to be addressed immediately. <BR /> <BR />The Finance Minister is responsible for HR in the Civil Service. When I asked what she had done to address this year's reported increase in sick pay, she referred to the overarching NICS health and well-being framework and stated that reducing sickness absence is a priority for the Civil Service. Whilst welcome, that is not enough. Immediate action is needed. <BR /> <BR />We face a crisis in our Civil Service.”