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Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what basic provision is made for capital costs, storage, maintenance and similar expenditure in assessing costs appropriate to the royal usage of No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron. [40391]
Mr. Soames: Costs of royal usage on official business are based on a proportionate cash assessment of total operating costs comprising personnel, aviation fuel, equipment and engineering support and other operating costs. By convention, capital costs are not included in the calculation.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Governments to which service personnel have been loaned during the period from April 1992. [40493]
Mr. Soames: The countries to which service personnel have been loaned since 1992 are Angola, Antigua, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Dominica, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Hong Kong, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, New
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Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, St Lucia, St Vincent, Swaziland, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe.Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what monitoring is undertaken by his Department of the adverse health effects of stage hypnotism. [38223]
Mr. Kirkhope: We expect shortly to publish the report of a review of the effects of participation in stage hypnotism and the workings of the Hypnotism Act 1952. The report will include an assessment of clinical evidence submitted to the review's panel of psychiatrists and psychologists.
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if persons asked to give DNA samples during the investigation of crimes are notified that the samples will be retained for future reference, whether or not they are charged with or convicted of the crimes under investigation. [39960]
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 30 October 1995]: When members of the public volunteer to give samples as part of a mass screening, the samples taken are compared only with the sample found at the scene of the crime under investigation. The samples are destroyed at the end of the investigation and the profiles derived from them are not retained on the DNA database.
When a sample is taken from a person suspected of involvement in a recordable offence, the police are required to inform the person that the sample may be the subject of a speculative search. Whether and for how long the samples will be retained is dependent upon the outcome of the investigation.
Samples taken from persons convicted of or cautioned for a recordable offence will be retained for the same period as the offender's criminal record on Phoenix. Samples taken from people who are acquitted or not proceeded against will be retained if another person from whom a sample has been taken in the same investigation is convicted of an offence. These samples may be needed for further comparative analysis if it is subsequently suggested that there has been a miscarriage of justice.
DNA profiles will be retained in a searchable form on the DNA database only if the suspect is convicted of or cautioned for a recordable offence or if action against that individual is ongoing.
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to inform Mohammed Riaz and Abdul Quayyum Raja of his decision concerning their tariffs; on what date he received the case papers; and if he will make a statement. [40446]
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Miss Widdecombe: The case papers were submitted to Ministers on 4 October. The decisions on tariff will be taken and disclosed to the prisoners as soon as reasonably practicable.
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reason Patrick Kelly and Michael O'Brien, prisoners, are (a) detained in the special security unit at Whitemoor prison, (b) refused reading material and (c) kept in cells which have no heating; if, the hon. Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe) talked to either prisoner when she visited Whitemoor prison; what complaints she received about their detention; and if he will make a statement; [40449]
(2) if he will release Patrick Kelly, currently detained in the special security unit at Whitemoor prison, and arrange for his early transfer either to Northern Ireland or to the Irish Republic; and if he will make a statement. [40447]
Miss Widdecombe [holding answer 30 October 1995]: Patrick Kelly is serving a sentence of imprisonment of 25 years for the attempted murder of a police officer and conspiring to cause explosions. Under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, consideration cannot be given, save in exceptional circumstances, to Mr. Kelly's discretionary release until May 2005.
Mr. Kelly's recent request for transfer to Northern Ireland was refused on the grounds that he does not meet the criteria for transfer. He has no known links with Northern Ireland and he was not previously resident there before his present conviction. There were considered to be insufficient compelling compassionate factors to justify, exceptionally, granting him a transfer. This decision is currently under review.
Mr. Kelly has indicated his wish to be repatriated to the Republic of Ireland. This will be considered on its merits, in consultation with the Irish Government, when arrangements for the repatriation of prisoners between the two jurisdictions come into force on 1 November.
Mr. Kelly and Mr. O'Brien are both category A prisoners with exceptional escape risk classifications. As such, it is necessary for them to be held in conditions suitable for prisoners of the highest security category. It is normal policy, subject to operational constraints which may affect the availability of such accommodation, to hold such prisoners in special secure units--SSUs.
Mr. Kelly and Mr. O'Brien have not been refused reading material although, because they are on a dirty protest, they are not, for reasons of hygiene, allowed to have books from the prison library. On 17 October, as part of a disciplinary award for failing to comply with the regime requirements of the SSU, they were not permitted to receive publications from outside sources for seven days. They did, however, continue to be provided with daily newspapers. Publications sent to them during that period were stored and given to the prisoners after 24 October.
The cells in the SSU are heated. There were some technical problems when the heating was first required
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after the summer, but since the middle of October there have been no reported problems. The heating is now operated automatically by a temperature control located within the unit.I recently visited the Whitemoor SSU, but did not see either prisoner.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of cases of all forms of fraud committed by employees of his (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non- departmental public bodies for each year from 1991 92 to 1994 95; and for each of these years, what was the total monetary sum (1) misappropriated in such frauds and (2) subsequently recovered. [39127]
Mr. Howard [holding answer 24 October 1995]: The number of cases of fraud committed by staff of the Home Office, its agencies and non- departmental public bodies is tabulated for the years 1991 92 to 1994 95. The monetary value of the fraud and how much was recovered is shown.
Year |Department|Agency |NDPB ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1991-92 Number of frauds committed |16 |- |- Monetary value |16,668 |- |- Amount recovered £ |9,602 |- |- 1992-93 Number of frauds committed |15 |- |- Monetary value £ |22,349 |- |- Amount recovered £ |3,847 |- |- 1993-94 Number of frauds committed |5 |15 |1 Monetary value £ |710 |48,906 |190 Amount recovered £ |460 |1,559 |190 1994-95 Number of frauds committed |1 |4 |- Monetary value £ |1,400 |38,896 |- Amount recovered £ |301 |- |-
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to invite applications from Irish nationals serving sentences in prisons in the United Kingdom to be transferred to prisons in the Irish Republic; how many Irish nationals are detained in United Kingdom prisons; how many have indicated their intention of applying to be transferred; how many have applied; what are the arrangements for recording and processing such applications; and if he will make a statement. [40451]
Miss Widdecombe [holding answer 30 October 1995]: The Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons comes into effect for the Republic of Ireland from 1 November. The convention requires that all eligible prisoners who may wish to seek repatriation
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are informed by the sentencing jurisdiction of the availability of these procedures. With the agreement of the Irish Government, Irish prisoners in England and Wales will be advised of these arrangements through instructions given to prison governors. I am placing a copy of the relevant instruction--"Instruction to Governors 101/95"--in the Library.As at 30 September 1995, 644 prisoners held in England and Wales gave their nationality on reception into prison as Irish. Under the convention, prisoners may not themselves apply for repatriation but may indicate an interest in this. To date, 35 Irish prisoners have done so. It will be open to either jurisdiction to make a formal request for repatriation on a prisoner's behalf.
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All requests for repatriation involving prisoners held in England and Wales are recorded and processed by Prion Service headquarters.Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum by persons applying (a) on entry to the United Kingdom and (b) after entry were decided in 1994 and in January to September 1995; and how many of each category were granted asylum and exceptional leave to remain. [40605]
Mr. Kirkhope: The information requested is given in the table.
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Decisions on asylum applications made at ports of entry and after entry into the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1994 and January to September 1995 1994 1995 (January to September) |Port |In country |Port |In country |applications|applications|Total |applications|applications|Total ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Decisions<1><2><3> Total decisions |7,150 |13,840 |20,990 |7,325 |12,585 |19,910 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum |300 |530 |825 |250 |570 |820 Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave |1,785 |1,875 |3,660 |1,700 |2,055 |3,750 Refusals Total refused |5,065 |11,435 |16,500 |5,375 |9,965 |15,340 Refused asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration |4,255 |8,400 |12,655 |4,490 |8,080 |12,570 Refused on safe third country grounds |810 |55 |865 |885 |130 |1,015 Refused under para.340 of Immigration Rules<4> |- |2,985 |2,985 |- |1,755 |1,755 <1>Provisional and estimated figures rounded to the nearest 5. <2>Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. <3>Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period. <4>For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken or intends to take to ensure that refugees arriving from abroad are aware that they must apply for asylum on arrival in order to protect their potential entitlement to social security benefits.
Mr. Kirkhope: None. The immigration rules make it clear that matters which may damage an asylum applicant's credibility include failure to apply forthwith upon arrival--paragraph 341 of HC 395. Genuine asylum claims ought not to be affected by considerations of benefit entitlement. People who gain admission on the basis that they will support themselves should be held to that requirement whether or not they subsequently claim asylum.
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a decision on the British Betting Office Association's request to join the bookmakers committee to the Levy Board and the reconstitutions of the committee; and if he will make a statement. [40589]
Mr. Kirkhope: The review of the committee's composition is still in progress; the outcome will be announced as soon as possible.
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Mr. Allason: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the grounds upon which the decision was taken in respect of granting permission to Phillip Agee to enter the United Kingdom. [40204]
Mr. Howard: I have revoked the deportation order made against Mr. Agee in 1977 because I consider that he no longer represents a threat to national security.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the pension deficit of the West Midlands fire service with particular reference to its impact on (a) effectiveness of the service and (b) the future of the scheme. [40247]
Mr. Kirkhope: The West Midlands fire and civil defence authority is required to set a budget that enables it to meet its obligations under the Fire Services Act 1947, including the provision of an effective fire service and payment of pensions. As far as I am aware, the authority is meeting these statutory obligations. As my right hon. and learned Friend announced on 3 March 1994, the fire service pension scheme is under review, but in determining levels of local government revenue funding, the Government are already taking into account, among other relevant factors, what they know to be the increasing pension liabilities of a number of fire authorities.
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Mr. Michael Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the disbursements made by the National Lottery Charities Board to organisations in Brigg and
Cleethorpes. [39956]
Mr. Kirkhope: No grants have so far been announced by the National Lottery Charities Board in respect of organisations in the Brigg and Cleethorpes constituency.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for National Heritage collecting centrally information on the locations of the remaining in-situ blue boxes in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [40007]
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action police forces in the United Kingdom are taking to ensure they have a system for identifying fingerprints taken at the scene of crime; and if he will make a statement. [39730]
Mr. Maclean: All police forces in England and Wales have systems for the identification of fingerprints taken at scenes of crimes and, in the great majority of cases, they involve computer support. A national automated fingerprint identification system will be introduced in eight pilot schemes involving eight forces in 1997 and will be implemented in all forces in England and Wales by 2001, replacing existing automated fingerprint recognition systems.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to promote the amalgamation of any of the Humberside, Lincolnshire or individual Yorkshire constabularies; and if he will make a statement. [39512]
Mr. Maclean: I have no plans to amalgamate any of the Humberside, Lincolnshire or Yorkshire police forces.
Miss Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the regulations for the police, ambulance, and fire services, relating to the use of sirens and high speed. [39782]
Mr. Maclean: Control on the use of sirens is provided by the published Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 which state that sirens may be used by vehicles belonging to the recognised emergency services at any time when
it is necessary or desirable to do so either to indicate to other road users the urgency of the purposes for which the vehicle is being used, or to warn other road users of the presence of the vehicle on the road".
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In addition, there is a statutory exemption from compliance with speed limits in section 87 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The exemption applies to police, fire and ambulance service vehicles when observance of speed limits would be likely to"hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose for which the vehicle was being used"
at the time concerned. Any further controls are operational matters for individual police forces, fire brigades and ambulance services.
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the largest group of offenders currently serving sentences in British prisons. [39742]
Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mrs. Anne Campbell, dated 31 October 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what is the largest group of offenders currently serving sentences in British prisons.
The latest provisional information is for 30 September 1995. On that date the offence group with the largest number of sentenced offenders in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales was for violence against the person. 8,700 people were held after sentence for offences of violence against the person. This figure excludes all prisoners for whom an offence is not recorded (five per cent of the total prison population). Information on the prison population, broken down by offence is published annually in "Prison statistics, England and Wales" (table 1.7 of the 1993 edition, Cm 2893), a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current situation in respect of the use by police forces of IBM's automatic fingerprinting recognition system; and if he will make a statement. [39729]
Mr. Maclean: The contract between the automated fingerprint recognition--AFR--consortium, representing 36 police forces in England and Wales, and IBM for the provision of automated fingerprint recognition facilities was terminated earlier this year. The forces concerned have made other arrangements: the 32 which have remained members of the AFR consortium are receiving an interim service provided by the Lockheed Martin Corporation.
Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of implementing (a) the Woodcock report, (b) the Learmont report and (c) the proposed changes to remission and sentencing. [39597]
Miss Widdecombe: The estimated costs of implementing the recommendations of the Woodcock report are being reconsidered in the light of Sir John Learmont's report.
Sir John Learmont's own assessment of the costs of his recommendations appears at appendix Q to his report.
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Details of the proposed changes in sentencing policy will be set out in a White Paper due to be published early next year.Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the current waiting time for an
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appointment with a consultant at each hospital in Northern Ireland which provides orthopaedic services; [39247](2) how many patients are on current waiting lists at each hospital for an appointment with an orthopaedic consultant. [39249]
Mr. Moss: The table shows the number of patients and time waiting for a first outpatient appointment in the trauma and orthopaedic speciality at the end of June 1995.
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|0-2 |3-5 |6-8 |9-11 |12-14 |15-17 |18-20 |21-23 |24+ Unit of |Hospital |months |months |months |months |months |months |months |months |months |Total Management/Trust -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Altnagelvin Group of Hospitals |Altnagelvin |504 |201 |229 |215 |149 |40 |16 |5 |1 |1,360 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust |Belfast City |593 |248 |172 |112 |105 |41 |7 |0 |0 |1,278 Greenpark Healthcare HSS Trust |Musgrave Park |896 |415 |267 |273 |207 |239 |183 |180 |596 |3,256 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust |Mater |28 |2 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |31 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust |Royal, RBHSC<1> |611 |547 |392 |204 |114 |33 |26 |11 |28 |1,966 Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospital HSS Trust |Ulster |319 |131 |95 |51 |48 |37 |33 |29 |184 |927 <1>Information held centrally relates to the total number of patients waiting in each Unit of Management or Trust, for a first outpatient appointment. Therefore it is not possible to provide individual totals for the Royal Victoria and the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the health services that have been market tested by or notified to his Department and won by the private sector indicating (a) the location and (b) the organisation winning the tender. [40618]
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Mr. Moss: Health services, in terms of clinical and clinical support services, have not been market tested in Northern Ireland. The table gives the information requested in respect of non-clinical support services.
Details of services market tested and won by the private sector up to 31 March 1995. Services(s) tested |Provider unit(s) |Service provider(s) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Domestic Services |Armagh and Dungannon Unit |Gardner Merchant |Homefirst Community Unit |ISS Mediclean |North Down and Ards Community Trust (non-residential accommodation) |ISS Mediclean |Altnagelvin Hospital Unit |ISS Mediclean |Western Area Mental Health Unit (Northern sector) |Gardner Merchant |Central Services Agency |Grosvenor Cleaning |Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospitals Trust (North Down and Ards Hospitals)|ISS Mediclean Catering Services |Altnagelvin Group of Hospitals Unit |Foyle Community Unit |Western Board Headquarters and Bureau |Compass Services |Western Area Mental Health Unit (Northern Sector) Laundry and Linen Services |South and East Belfast Trust-Linen hire |Lilliput Laundry Hotel Services Domestic/Catering Services |Craigavon Area Hospital Trust |Craigavon and Banbridge Community Trust |Gardner Merchant |Southern Board Headquarters Domestic/Catering Portering/ Security Telephonists and Transport Services |Green Park Healthcare Trust |Mediguard Services Domestic/Catering Portering/ Supplies Transport Services |Omagh Femranagh Hospitals and Community Unit |Compass Services High Level Cleaning |South and East Belfast Trust |Grove Services |Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospitals Trust |Various Pest Control |South and East Belfast Trust |Alpha Pest Control |North and West Belfast Trust |Alpha Pest Control |Omagh and Fermanagh Unit |Alpha Pest Control |Altnagelvin Group of Hospitals Unit |Alpha Pest Control |Western Area Mental Health Unit |Rentokil Ltd. |Green Park Healthcare Trust |Rentokil Ltd. Sanitary Cleaning |North and West Belfast Trust |Canon Hygiene |Altnagelvin Group of Hospitals Unit |Canon Hygiene Window Blind Cleaning |North and West Belfast Trust |Decora Blinds Clinical Waste Disposal |North and West Belfast Trust |Down Waste Disposal Window Cleaning |Causeway Trust |City Contract |Homefirst Community Unit |Armagh Industrial |United Hospitals Unit |Armagh Industrial |South and East Belfast Trust |Armagh Industrial Group |Mater Infirmorum Hospital Trust |Grosvenor Cleaning |North and West Belfast Trust |Grosvenor Cleaning |Omagh and Fermangh Unit |W. McCartney |Altnagelvin Group of Hospitals Unit |City Contract Clean. |Western Area Mental Health Unit |City Contract Clean. |Foyle Community Unit |City Contract Clean. |Belfast City Hospital Trust |S. and J. Robinson |Green Park Healthcare Trust |Armagh Industrial |Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospitals Trust |J. Robinson Transport Hire |Homefirst Community Unit |Various<1> |North and West Belfast Trust |City Cabs |Western Board Ambulance Service |Various<1> |Omagh Fermanagh Unit |Various<1> |Green Park Healthcare Trust |ABA/Enterprise Social Services Transport |Causeway Trust |Darragh's Coaches |(Social and Adult Centres) |Logan's Coaches Transport Maintenance |Southern Health and Social Services Board |Various<1> |South and East Belfast Trust |Castlereagh Motors |North and West Belfast Trust |Macs and Stewarts |Western Board Ambulance Service |Various<1> |Omagh Fermanagh Unit |Various<1> |Western Area Mental Health (S. Sector) |R. Donnell |Foyle Community Unit |Various<1> |Belfast City Hospital Trust |Harknese |Green Park Healthcare Trust |Various<1> Non-Emergency Transport |Homefirst Community Unit |Various<1> Grounds and Roads Maintenance |Homefirst Community Unit (Loughside) |T L R Landscapes |Homefirst Community Unit (Bannside) |J F K Nurseries |South and East Belfast Trust |Cameron Landscapes |Omagh Fermanagh Unit (Fermanagh Sector) |Ashwood Nurseries Courier Services |North Down and Ards Community Trust |Armouirguard Security Services |North Down and Ards Community Trust |Armouirguard |Mater Infirmorum Hospital Trust |Securicor |Central Services Agency |Guardforce Printing and Publishing |Northern Board (General Printing) |Nicholson/Bass |Northern Board (Publications) |Graham and Heslip <1>More than one contractor. Full details of all the contractors not available centrally.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) surpluses and (b) deficits were recorded by each district health authority in 1994 95. [40662]
Mr. Moss: The surpluses and deficits recorded by each health and social services board for Northern Ireland for 1994 95 are set out in the table.
The accounts of the health and social services boards report separately on revenue income and expenditure and capital income and expenditure. The table analyses the net surplus or deficit over each.
These accounts have not yet been certified by the appointed auditor and so may be subject to change.
H |NHSSB |SHSSB |EHSSB |WHSSB |£ |£ |£ |£ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Revenue |22,407 |653,940 |(1,985,796)|(1,138,784) Capital |201,324 |1,251,754 |(278,302) |1,559,937 Total |223,731 |1,905,694 |(2,264,098)|421,153 Note: Figures in brackets represent deficits i.e. excess of expenditure over income.
Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide in respect of his plan for pay delegation submitted to the Treasury (a) a description of the staff in each bargaining unit covered by the plan, distinguishing staff in HQ functions, agencies and agency candidates, and in other identifiable business units and the negotiating machinery to be put in place in each bargaining unit. [38277]
Sir John Wheeler: The pay delegation plan submitted by the Northern Ireland Office to the Treasury covers staff in grades 6 and below in the following bodies, which will in 1996 constitute a single bargaining unit:
The Northern Ireland Office
Legal Offices
Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions for
Northern Ireland
Crown Solicitor's Office
Agencies
Northern Ireland Prison Service (except prison officers and prison governors)
Compensation Agency
Forensic Science Agency of Northern Ireland
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Other BodiesPolice Authority for Northern Ireland (except industrial staff) Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights
Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland
Independent Assessor of Military Complaints Procedures
Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres
Proposals for discussion about pay bargaining procedures have been sent to the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance, the First Division Association, the National Union of Civil and Public Servants and the Civil and Public Services Association.
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