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Mr. Ancram: In 1979, Harland and Wolff had a recorded turnover of £67.3 million. The company was privatised in 1989 and turnover in 1993 was £103 million.
Royal Ulster Constabulary
Mr. A. Cecil Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the total number of persons serving in the RUC in the ranks of (a) constable, (b) sergeant, (c) inspector, (d) chief inspector, (e) superintendent and (f) chief superintendent as at 31 December 1994.
Sir John Wheeler: The information requested is as follows:
Rank |Number ----------------------------------- Constable |6,264 Sergeant |1,410 Inspector |490 Chief Inspector |163 Superintendent |122 Chief Superintendent |35
Mr. A. Cecil Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of members of each rank of the RUC broken down by (a) perceived religious affiliation and (b) gender.
Sir John Wheeler: The information requested is as given in the table:
Community Gender
background
|CB1<1>|CB2<2>|CB3<3>|Male |Female
---------------------------------------------------------------
Constable |5,597 |454 |213 |5,512 |752
Sergeant |1,269 |115 |26 |1,336 |74
Inspector |429 |45 |16 |468 |22
Chief Inspector |139 |23 |1 |158 |5
Superintendent |102 |18 |2 |121 |1
Chief Superintendent |30 |5 |0 |35 |0
Notes:
<1> Perceived Protestant community.
<2> Perceived Roman Catholic community.
<3> Other.
Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the normal consultative arrangements which exist between the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Police Authority for Northern Ireland and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Sir John Wheeler: The Chief Constable and other senior officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary attend frequent and regular meetings both with the Secretary of State and with the chairman and members of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland. My officials are in frequent contact with both the RUC and the authority, and there is a wide variety of groups comprising the Northern Ireland Office and the Police Authority for Northern Ireland and the Royal Ulster Constabulary, dealing with matters of common concern.
Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what aspects of the situation relating to promotions to the rank of assistant chief constable in the Royal Ulster Constabulary are currently under consideration; when this process commenced; what are the difficulties; when the issue is likely to be resolved; and if he will list all the stages in the promotion process for the rank of assistant chief constable in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, including selection for the senior command course, when the Chief Constable makes a specific input to that process.
Sir John Wheeler: Appointments to the rank of ACC are made under the provision of section 7(1) of the Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970. The process is currently the subject of proceedings by way of judicial review; it is not appropriate to comment further pending the outcome of those proceedings.
Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what comments Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary's 1994 report makes on the need for corporate policy decision making within the senior command of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and what has been the Chief Constable's response to this.
Sir John Wheeler: I refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraph 6 of appendix A on page 40 of the report of Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary on the Royal Ulster Constabulary 1994, a copy of which is in the Library.
The Chief Constable, who is responsible for the direction and control of the RUC, has carefully considered HMI's concerns but believes, given the size and complexity of the RUC, that the systems in place are fully sufficient for corporate decision making. These systems include twice weekly meetings with those assistant chief constables with operational roles and, pending the appointment of a Deputy Chief Constable (Support Services), fortnightly meetings with the assistant chief constables with support service responsibilities; a monthly meeting attended by all chief officers; and a force policy executive, comprising the Chief Constable and his two deputies, which takes all major policy decisions.
Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the salary of the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; how long the present Chief Constable has been in post; whether his family residence is in Northern Ireland; to what amount of housing allowance he is entitled; on how many nights during 1994 he was present in Northern Ireland; and if he will list those periods of longer than four nights' duration
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when the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary was out of Northern Ireland during 1994.Sir John Wheeler: The salary of the Chief Constable is £85,350 per annum and he has been in post since 1 June 1989.
The Chief Constable resides in Northern Ireland with his wife at RUC headquarters and has done so since 1 June 1989. He does not receive housing allowance but to provide some respite from the domestically undesirable nature of his accommodation, above force headquarters, he receives a non- pensionable allowance of £4,355.04 per annum.
The Chief Constable was in Northern Ireland on 242 nights in 1994. The Chief Constable was outside Northern Ireland on eight occasions for periods of more than four nights; four of those occasions were on official business. When outside Northern Ireland, whether on leave or business, he is always contactable and has been so contacted when appropriate.
Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost to the policing budget of travel, and all associated expenses by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary during 1994.
Sir John Wheeler: The cost of the Chief Constable's travel in the course of his duties in Northern Ireland cannot be disaggregated. Travel outside Northern Ireland on police duties cost £20,505.33 during 1994; associated expenses totalled £1,931.28.
Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary was informed by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland of its intention to conduct a public survey on the future of policing in Northern Ireland.
Sir John Wheeler: The chairman of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland wrote to consult the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary about the arrangements that the authority intended to make for obtaining the views of people about matters concerning policing, on 18 November 1994. At that stage the date on which the authority was to announce its initiative had not been decided. The secretary of the authority informed
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RUC headquarters of the proposed date of the announcement on 30 December 1994.Mr. Maginnis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account he has taken of the article published on 1 January written by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary on the establishment of a commission for policing in Northern Ireland; and if it is the Government's intention to implement this suggestion; and to what extent the suggestion was derived from general consultation with his senior command colleagues or the staff associations.
Sir John Wheeler: I have noted with interest the Chief Constable's article on policing published in The Sunday Times on 1 January 1995 in response to an open letter from the hon. Member for Newry and Armagh (Mr. Mallon) published on 11 December 1994, which contained a suggestion that a Northern Ireland commission on policing be established. I understand that the Chief Constable had consulted a number of senior colleagues and that such a commission is the method preferred by the Police Federation of Northern Ireland which represents some 97 per cent. of the RUC. My right hon. and learned Friend does not, at this stage, intend to establish a commission and I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for City of Chester (Mr. Brandreth) on 15 December, Official Report , columns 739 40 .
Agricultural Colleges
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time students attended (a) Greenmount college, (b) Enniskillen agricultural college and (c) Loughry college in each of the past five years; if there were sufficient places for the number of applicants each year; and if he will make a statement on the futures of these three agricultural colleges.
Mr. Ancram [holding answer 20 January 1995]: The number of full-time students enrolled at the three colleges run by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland for 1990 91 to 1994 95 was as follows:
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Greenmount Loughry College
College of of Agriculture
Agriculture
Enniskillen Colland Horticulture and Food
of Technology
|Agriculture |Agriculture |Horticulture |Agriculture |Food Technology
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |47 |218 |26 |46 |165
1991-92 |40 |217 |30 |45 |206
1992-93 |47 |221 |28 |39 |228
1993-94 |32 |242 |27 |61 |223
1994-95 |51 |276 |39 |39 |240
Each year there were sufficient places available for all qualified applicants for full-time courses.
In line with the Government's objective of improving the level of education and training of the national work force, the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland is committed to meeting the education and training needs of the Province's agri-food industry. Following a strategic review of the Department's activities, consideration is being given to a rationalisation of its education and training service. Under the proposal, the Department would retain three colleges but courses in agriculture would be delivered through Greenmount and
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Enniskillen colleges, leaving Loughry college to concentrate its resources and facilities on furthering its aim of being a centre of excellence and a focus for food industry development within Northern Ireland.HOME DEPARTMENT
Data Protection Act 1984
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the number of complaints
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alleging breaches of the Data Protection Act 1984 received in each of the latest available three years for (a) each county in Wales, (b) for Wales as a whole and (c) for the United Kingdom; how many prosecutions were brought; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Nicholas Baker: The Data Protection Registrar is responsible for administering the Data Protection Act 1984. I understand that statistical information about complaints is not kept on a geographical or county basis. The latest available information relating to complaints and prosecutions-- including details, in the case of the latter, of the court concerned--can be found in the 10th report of the Data Protection Registrar, laid before Parliament on 5 July 1994.
Probation Service
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he makes for rurality in determining the formula for funding the probation service in England and Wales.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The formula takes into account the differing staff costs of providing probation services in different parts of the country. A recent review of the formula by the Home Office, the Central Probation Council and the Association of Chief Officers of Probation concluded that an additional allowance based directly on rurality would not be justified.
Riot Shields
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether United Kingdom policing authorities or his Department are testing or have tested electro-shock riot shields or weapons in the last 12 months.
Mr. Maclean: No such tests have been conducted by my Department. I have no details of any such tests that may been conducted by police authorities in respect of equipment used to protect officers against ferocious dogs.
Mr. Gerry Hall
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Mr. Gerry Hall has ever applied to his Department for a section 5 permit for the building of militarily sensitive equipment, including electro-shock equipment.
Ethnic Minorities
Mr. Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the announcement will be made on the distribution of section 11 funding to local authorities, with special reference to Bradford.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 17 January, Official Report , column 382 .
Hypnotists
Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been of hypnotists in connection with their trade in each of the last five years.
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Mr. Maclean: Information held centrally shows one prosecution from 1989 to 1993. This occurred in 1991 and resulted in a conviction. The 1994 data will not be available until the autumn.
Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the activities of hypnotists in each of the last two years for which figures are available.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: In 1993, we received three letters about stage hypnotism from hon. Members or members of the public. In 1994, we received 39 such letters, and five parliamentary questions about the subject were asked. In addition, the Adjournment debate on stage hypnotism on 12 December 1994, Official Report , columns 745 52 , was initiated by the hon. Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Pickthall) and my hon. Friends the Members for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) and for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) participated.
Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to (a) regulate the activities of hypnotists and (b) require the registration of hypnotists.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: In an Adjournment debate on stage hypnotism on 12 December 1994, I announced that there was to be a review of the workings of the Hypnotism Act 1952 which regulates public performances of stage hypnotism. The review is now in hand.
Woodcock Inquiry
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the estimates, both in capital and running cost terms, for the implementation of Sir John Woodcock's recommendations.
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of implementing in full the proposals contained in the report of Sir John Woodcock's inquiry in respect of England and Wales as forecast for each financial year for which figures are available; and if he will break down the costs by recommendation.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Detailed costs of implementing the recommendations contained in Sir John Woodcock's report on Whitemoor are currently being assessed by the Prison Service.
Wheel Clamping
Mr. Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when proposals will be forthcoming following his Department's consultation paper "Wheel Clamping on Private Land".
Mr. Maclean: We are considering what action it might be appropriate to take. We will make an announcement when our proposals are ready.
Private Clegg
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the imprisonment of Private Clegg in Her Majesty's Prison, Wakefield.
Mr. Howard: Private Clegg is at present imprisoned at HMP Wakefield, on temporary transfer from Northern Ireland, following the dismissal by the House of Lords last Thursday of his appeal against conviction for murder.
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As my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has made clear, decisions on Private Clegg's release are a matter for him.In giving judgment, the House of Lords expressed concern about certain aspects of the law of murder. I can confirm that, together with colleagues, I am reviewing the law in the light of the concern expressed by the House of Lords.
Card Systems
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider setting up a committee to consider the developing technology of card systems, and the potential demand for such systems from Government Departments; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science.
Life Prisoners
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women currently serving a life prison sentence in a prison in England or Wales have been informed they will never be released from prison; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 16 January 1995, Official Report , column 333 . The 15 prisoners mentioned in that answer comprise 14 men and one woman.
Private Detectives
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of private detectives by Government Departments on public agencies; if he will issue guidelines about their use; what representations he has received on the civil liberty implications of such use; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean: This information is not held centrally. We have not received any representations on the civil liberty implications of the use by Government of private detectives nor have we any plans to introduce guidelines in this area. But we are looking again at policies on the whole of the private security industry and we await with interest the outcome of the Home Affairs Select Committee's current inquiry into the industry.
National Lottery
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to require the organisers of the national lottery to conduct a survey of public opinion before determining the disbursement of funds to charities.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Disbursement of lottery proceeds for charitable expenditure is the responsibility of the National Lottery Charities Board. It is a principle of the lottery that the operator, Camelot, has no role to play in the disbursement of proceeds. I shall be issuing the board with directions as to the matters which it must take into account in making grants, but within that framework it will be responsible for deciding its own policies, practices and procedures. The current draft directions include the
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need to make grants to small, local organisations and those without immediate popular appeal as well as to large, national high-profile bodies. It is for the board to determine what factors to take into account before determining its policies. I understand that the board will be undertaking detailed consultation with the charitable and voluntary sectors before reaching decisions on these matters.Police (Traffic)
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in respect of his decision not to include enforcement of road traffic regulations in the list of core functions for police authorities.
Mr. Maclean: There is no list of core functions for police authorities. My right hon. and learned Friend announced last October the key objectives for policing for 1995 96. Following consultation with ministerial colleagues and others he decided that it would not be right to include a traffic objective, but this does not mean that road traffic regulations will not be enforced. In promulgating the key objectives, my right hon. and learned Friend made plain the importance the Government attach to road safety, and the reduction of road traffic accident casualties.
It is open to police authorities to include traffic objectives as they consider fit in the local objectives which they will be expected to set each year.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were dedicated to traffic enforcement for each of the last five years for which figures are available by police authority.
Mr. Maclean: Information for the years 1989 to 1993 is set out in the table. Figures for 1994 are not yet available. The collection of data for the Metropolitan police began only in 1994.
Officers dedicated to traffic enforcement by police authority (1989-1993) Police Authority |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992 |1993 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avon and Somerset |253 |259 |268 |266 |208 Bedfordshire |94 |99 |101 |80 |73 Cambridgeshire |125 |120 |125 |126 |107 Cheshire |235 |203 |201 |206 |206 City of London |37 |33 |37 |34 |33 Cleveland |96 |97 |93 |94 |87 Cumbria |132 |131 |133 |132 |128 Derbyshire |157 |154 |153 |146 |155 Devon and Cornwall |241 |241 |239 |238 |227 Dorset |108 |112 |111 |95 |97 Durham |130 |135 |134 |113 |115 Dyfed-Powys |104 |106 |101 |94 |105 Essex |259 |262 |274 |272 |293 Gloucestershire |82 |84 |83 |83 |82 Greater Manchester |455 |474 |467 |462 |425 Gwent |105 |103 |100 |95 |90 Hampshire |263 |263 |261 |343 |269 Hertfordshire |159 |156 |155 |157 |159 Humberside |164 |161 |161 |161 |160 Kent |156 |172 |208 |234 |230 Lancashire |305 |292 |287 |282 |276 Leicestershire |78 |76 |84 |122 |111 Lincolnshire |85 |86 |103 |99 |94 Merseyside |329 |367 |359 |338 |349 Norfolk |118 |127 |114 |116 |119 North Wales |134 |134 |137 |136 |125 North Yorkshire |156 |161 |147 |139 |132 Northamptonshire |89 |100 |98 |102 |99 Northumbria |251 |253 |253 |244 |249 Nottinghamshire |182 |189 |187 |163 |160 South Wales |266 |256 |248 |247 |231 South Yorkshire |206 |208 |213 |219 |202 Staffordshire |233 |234 |240 |233 |226 Suffolk |94 |97 |87 |85 |83 Surrey |225 |202 |203 |213 |209 Sussex |245 |239 |238 |247 |243 Thames Valley |326 |341 |354 |344 |345 Warwickshire |104 |127 |126 |126 |126 West Mercia |119 |142 |132 |127 |120 West Midlands |449 |446 |462 |441 |428 West Yorkshire |384 |392 |391 |384 |357 Wiltshire |101 |96 |103 |104 |115
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police authority the budget allocated for road traffic enforcement (a) as a total and (b) as a percentage of overall expenditure for each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Mr. Maclean: The information requested is not held centrally
Police National Computer
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from senior police officers about the proposed privatisation of the running of the police national computer; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean: One formal representation was made by the then president of the Association of Chief Police Officers to my predecessor, which supported the principle of market testing the hendon data centre but expressed concern about the timing of the exercise. Representatives of the association have been consulted on the same matter more recently, and have expressed similar views. I will shortly be announcing our conclusions with respect to the future management of the Hendon data centre.
Police Stations
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the 1995 96 police grant allocation on the number of police stations, and their hours of opening in the North Wales police force area.
Mr. Maclean: The draft report "The Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 1995 96" sets out the principles on which proposed allocations of resources have been made for 1995 96. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.
It is for the police authority and the chief constable to decide what their priorities are and on what they spend their allocation of police grant.
Police (Abnormal Operations)
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which constabularies' applications for special payments for a one-off abnormal operation
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have been successful during the past five years; and what percentage of their annual budget the cost of that operation represented.Mr. Maclean: One application for a special payment of grant has been successful during the past five years, from Northumbria police authority. The estimated additional expenditure incurred represented 6.4 per cent. of budget.
Police, Shoreham Harbour
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total cost of the police operation at Shoreham harbour; and what percentage of the annual budget for Sussex constabulary this operation will represent.
Mr. Maclean: I understand that the total estimated cost of the police operation at Shoreham harbour at 19 January was £2.2 million. This represents about 1.7 per cent. of the force budget for 1994 95.
Weapons Scanners
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the use of scanners to detect offensive weapons in places of public entertainment.
Mr. MacLean: This operation is not collected centrally.
North Wales Police
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the 1995 96 police grant allocation on recruitment of police, special constables and graduate recruits for North Wales police.
Mr. Maclean: The responsibility for the recruitment of police officers, special constables and graduate recruits to the police lies solely with the chief officer of the police force concerned. No assessment of the impact of the 1995 96 grant allocation on recruitment for North Wales police has been undertaken centrally.
Martin Fenton
Mr. Allason: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to release on licence Martin Fenton, currently serving a life sentence for murder.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Mr. Fenton's case has been reviewed twice by the parole board--most recently in October 1992--but the board has not yet recommended that Mr. Fenton is safe to release. My right hon. and learned Friend has no power to release a mandatory life sentence prisoner without a positive parole board recommendation.
The next review of Mr Fenton's case by the parole board will begin in July 1995.
Frederick West
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is (a) the total cost of the Frederick West operation to the Gloucestershire constabulary to date and (b) the estimated cost of the
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entire inquiry; and what percentage of the annual budget these sums represent.Mr. Maclean: As at 19 January, the estimated total cost to date was £1.4 million. This represents 2.6 per cent. of the force budget for 1994 95. The additional cost to the force is some £670,000 or 1.2 per cent. of budget.
The chief constable is not able at present to make a firm estimate of the total costs expected to be incurred.
Prisoners (Release on Licence)
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women who were released on licence were recalled to prison during 1994.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Provisional data for 1994 show that there were 291 men and four women recalled from parole licences under section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and under earlier legislation and 20 men and no women recalled from life licences. The latest available data for those recalled under sections 38, 65 and 40 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and for 1993 when there were 33 men and no women recalled for breach under sections 38 and 65 and 22 men and no women recalled for reoffending under section 40.
Vehicle Crime
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what were (a) the costs of vehicle crime in England and Wales for 1993 and (b) his Department's expenditure on related research that year; and what is the planned expenditure for 1994 and 1995.
Mr. Maclean: Our estimate of the total cost of vehicle crime during 1993 was £2.7 billion. This figure includes estimated property loss, and insurance costs, damage, security expenditure, inconvenience costs and criminal justice/police costs.
Home Office expenditure on vehicle-related research totalled approximately £70,000 in 1993 and £72,000 in 1994. Planned expenditure for 1995 is approximately £90,000.
Identity Cards
Sir Thomas Arnold: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest policy on identity cards; and if he will make a statement.
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