Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill

The point is that, although Departments have that responsibility, they cannot be relied on to discharge it fairly and competently. That is why they rely on consultants. Even when they rely on consultants, as we saw with the electronic human resources contract, the Department of Finance and Personnel said that it would not even release the evaluation of the quality impact assessment on the very policy of outsourcing until it had already let the contract. That is the proof that the Departments or their consultants cannot be relied on.