questionText: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people, other than special advisers, have been appointed to civil service posts in his Department without open competition since 4 July 2024; what their (a) job titles and (b) salary bands are; and on what basis each was appointed.
answerText: Every person appointed to a civil service post within the Northern Ireland Office since 4 July 2024, has been recruited via fair and open competition. 
heading: Northern Ireland Office: Civil Servants