<Li> the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (on electoral law). </Li> <P> Before the partition, Ireland was governed through the Dublin Castle administration and the Home Office was also responsible for Irish affairs . From 1924 to 1972, Northern Ireland affairs were handled by the Northern Ireland Department of the Home Office . In August 1969, for example, Home Secretary James Callaghan approved the sending of British Army soldiers to Northern Ireland . </P> <P> As the Troubles worsened, the UK Government was increasingly concerned that the Northern Ireland Government (at Stormont) was losing control of the situation . On 24 March 1972, it announced that direct rule from Westminster would be introduced . This took effect on 30 March 1972 . </P> <P> The formation of the NIO put Northern Ireland on the same level as Scotland and Wales, where the Scottish Office and Welsh Office were established in 1885 and 1965 respectively . The NIO assumed policing and justice powers from the Ministry of Home Affairs . NIO junior ministers were placed in charge of other Northern Ireland Civil Service departments . </P>

Parliamentary under secretary of state at the northern ireland office