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Charges by Bailiffs
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what regulations apply on the levying of charges by bailiffs against individuals from whom they are charged to collect fines. [9113]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: I have been asked to reply. Where a magistrates' court seeks to enforce payment of a fine by issuing a distress warrant and directing it to a bailiff, the levying of charges by the bailiff for the execution of the distress warrant is governed by section 78 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980, as amended by section 46 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982, and by rule 54 of the Magistrates' Courts Rules 1981.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of chauffeur-driven cars used by his Department was in each of the past five years. [5856]
Sir John Wheeler: The information available is as follows:
1991-92: £367,000 1
1992-93: £420,000 1
1993-94: £1,406,000
1994-95: £1,543,000 1
1995-96: £653,000 to date.
1 Includes purchase of new vehicles.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is her estimate of the total cost for herself and other departmental Ministers for each year since 1991-92, including the current year of (a) overseas travel and accommodation expenses of Ministers and their advisers, (b) car and chauffeuring costs of Ministers, (c) ministerial security costs and (d) domestic travel and accommodation expenses of Ministers. [6390]
Sir John Wheeler: The information could be supplied in the format requested only at disproportionate cost. However, the overall cost of ministerial travel including the cost of escort cars and of ministerial support staff is as follows.
1991-92: £1,340,000
1992-93: £1,315,000
1993-94: £1,363,000 1
1994-95: £1,460,000 1
1995-96: £1,432,000 1
1 Figures for 1993-94--1995-96 include accommodation costs for the Secretary of State in London.
Action for Community Employment
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to reduce funding for ACE projects; what is the estimated saving to public funds; if there is still recruitment to ACE schemes; how the proposals will be implemented; what representations on ACE funding he has received in the past two months; and if he will make a statement. [8972]
Mr. Ancram: Responsibility for this subject has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 16 January 1996:
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The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply to your questions about the Action for Community Employment (ACE) programme.
As you know, on Monday 11 December 1995 the Secretary of State announced details of the Public Expenditure Plans for Northern Ireland for 1996/97 and the following two years. The announcement referred to the very encouraging performance of the Northern Ireland economy with unemployment now at its lowest level for 14 years and employment at record levels. He mentioned also the promise of substantial jobs from recently announced investments by major companies.
Against that background the Secretary of State indicated a reduction in the funding for the ACE programme (which amounts to £12.5 million in 1996/97) to meet pressures in top priority programmes aimed at promoting self-sustaining economic growth. The targeting of available resources in this way will best meet the needs of the unemployed in the longer term.
This Agency has recently written to the Chairpersons of ACE schemes to indicate the level of reduction required in each scheme to ensure that the programme operates within the resources available to it in 1996/97. Following consultations with a variety of sponsors and others with an interest in ACE, the Agency has agreed to allow ACE sponsors to determine how best they might achieve the reduction either individually or collectively. The Agency has also lifted the freeze on further recruitment into the programme which was imposed temporarily to facilitate an orderly contraction of the programme.
With regard to representations, I met before Christmas several voluntary and community organisations which operate ACE schemes to discuss how the reduction could be best achieved. On 10 January I met a delegation from Belfast City Council. There has been a flurry of correspondence also with Baroness Denton and myself. The Minister plans to meet public representatives later this month.
I hope that you find this reply useful. I will of course be pleased to provide further information if you would find it helpful.
Gun Licences
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what grounds a gun licence may be refused. [8689]
Sir John Wheeler: Under the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981, a firearm certificate shall not be granted unless the Chief Constable is satisfied that:
the firearm could be held without danger to public safety or to the peace; or
the applicant is fitted to hold a firearm; or
the applicant has 'good reason' for the firearm; or
the applicant is not prohibited from holding a firearm by virtue of article 22 of the order;
Sir John Wheeler: Applications for firearm certificates in the last five years are as follows:
| Applications | Refusals | |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2,857 | 343 |
| 1992 | 2,975 | 561 |
| 1993 | 3,496 | 474 |
| 1994 | 3,799 | 615 |
| 1995 (to 30 November) | 2,985 | 510 |
Firearm certificates are refused in accordance with the criteria specified in article 28 of the Firearms (NI) Order 1981. A breakdown to show the reason for each refusal would incur disproportionate cost.
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many gun licences are currently in existence; for how many guns; and what is the breakdown (a) of these weapons by (i) type and (ii) declared purpose
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and (b) of the licence holders by (1) background and (2) location. [8643]
Sir John Wheeler:
At 30 November 1995 there were 88,092 firearm certificates in Northern Ireland on which 133,869 weapons were held.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Shotguns | 85,204 |
| Pistols and revolvers | 13,044 |
| Rifles | 13,777 |
| Air weapons | 21,004 |
| Miscellaneous(16) | 840 |
(16) Includes humane killers, signal pistols, starting pistols, collectors items and spear guns.
Information regarding the declared purposes for which the firearms were sought and the background and location of certificate holders, is not held separately and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Housing Grant
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Housing Executive expects to complete its next review of the costings it employs in determining the amount of grant aid to be paid under its housing grant schemes; when the last review was completed; and when the present level of costings was applied to the determination of these schemes. [9122]
Mr. Moss: It is assumed that the costings in question refer to the schedule of rates which the Northern Ireland Housing Executive uses to draw up an estimate of the cost of grant-aided works. This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive whose chief executive has advised me that costings are monitored and adjusted if necessary, on an ongoing basis, and are reviewed annually. The next annual review is due in April 1996. The last review was completed in, and implemented from, April 1995 and forms the basis of the present costings.
Education Administration
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which political parties and other bodies he has met to discuss reforms of educational administration; and when he intends to announce his proposals. [8638]
Mr. Ancram: The present round of consultation on educational administration which I announced in my statement of 7 September has been limited to the main political parties in Northern Ireland. Meetings have been held with the following:
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
The Social Democratic and Labour Party
Mr. R. McCartney QC MP--United Kingdom Unionist
The Conservative Party
Sinn Fein
Democratic Left
The Workers' Party
The Ulster Democratic Party
Labour in Northern Ireland
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