Written question asked by Lady Hermon (Ulster Unionist Party) on Monday, 24 October 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 26 October 2005. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 November 2005 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Stranmillis College

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those organisations and individuals who responded to the consultation process on the governance arrangements to be adopted following incorporation of the Stranmillis College Equality Impact Assessment; and which organisations and individuals proposed the removal of the Transferor representatives from the Governing Body of Stranmillis.

Answer: Following the proposal to establish Stranmillis University College as a legally independent higher education institution accountable to a corporate governing body, an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) was conducted on the specific governance arrangements to be subsequently detailed in the Instrument of Government, as provided for in the then draft order. The Equality Impact Assessment was issued for public consultation in March 2005.The organisations and individuals who responded to the consultation process were:"Board of Education of the Methodist Church in Ireland;""Church of Ireland Board of Education Northern Ireland;""Disability Action;""General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland;""James Nelson and Norman Richardson (Lecturers in Religious Studies at Stranmillis University College);""John Erskine (of the Library at Stranmillis University College);""Northern Ireland Regional Office of NATFHE;""Stranmillis University College Board of Governors;""Stranmillis University College Branch of NATFHE; and""Transferor Representatives Council."The organisations and individuals that did not support continued representation by the three main Protestant Churches on the Board of Governors were:"James Nelson and Norman Richardson (Lecturers in Religious Studies at Stranmillis University College);""Northern Ireland Regional Office of NATFHE;""Stranmillis University College Board of Governors; and""Stranmillis University College Branch of NATFHE."

Secondary information