The NIO duck Nolan show questions over its policy to ban displays pictures of the Queen at its Stormont HQ

The Secretary of State, Julian Smith, has defended the Northern Ireland Office's policy on displaying pictures of the Royal Family. He issued a statement last night after reports that portraits of the Queen had been removed from Stormont House, the main building used by the NIO. His comments contradict those of NIO Minister Lord Duncan, who last week told the House of Lords that following advice from the Equality Commission, no images of the Queen were displayed at Stormont House.